California Chrome schools, gallops

ELMONT, N.Y. – California Chrome had a final schooling session in the Belmont Park paddock on Friday before going out for his daily gallop as he prepared for the 146th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park, in which the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will try to become the 12th horse to sweep the Triple Crown.

California Chrome came to the paddock shortly after 6 a.m. with exercise rider Willie Delgado aboard and with assistant trainer Alan Sherman holding the lead shank. California Chrome was initially taken to saddling stall No. 2, where he will be saddled before the Belmont. He drew post 2 in a field of 11

After taking a couple of laps around the paddock’s walking ring, California Chrome made his way to the track, stopping frequently on the pathway that leads from the paddock to the track to survey the scene.

Throughout the morning he displayed the same unflappable demeanor that has served him well as the attention on his Triple Crown quest has increased. There were a couple hundred people on the apron side of the tunnel, lined up on both sides of the pathway, and California Chrome took it all in without getting stirred in the least.

The rest of his training session mirrored what he has done most mornings here. He jogged and walked clockwise around the outside rail for a half-mile, then turned around for a gallop of more than two miles.