California Chrome stretches legs at Los Alamitos

The baton was passed from California Chrome in 2014 to American Pharoah in 2015. American Pharoah has been retired from racing, but California Chrome has returned to serious training, with designs on getting that baton back in 2016.

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, took a significant step toward a return to racing on Saturday morning when he breezed a quarter-mile through the stretch at Los Alamitos under his regular exercise rider, former jockey Dihigi Gladney. Russell Hudak, the official clocker at Los Alamitos, caught him in 26.60 seconds, and though the work will not go down on the official tab since a minimum of three furlongs is required for being listed, this was an important step.

“He was just breezing,” said trainer Art Sherman, “just something to open up his lungs. He looked awesome. I’m so happy he’s on the trail.”

That trail in 2015 was long, windy, and full of potholes, going from Dubai to England to Illinois to Kentucky and then back to California, where it all started.

California Chrome has not started since March 28, when he finished second in the Dubai World Cup. After that, Perry Martin, his co-breeder and majority owner, had California Chrome sent to England for an intended start in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. But a foot bruise discovered two days before the race necessitated California Chrome being withdrawn.

From there, California Chrome went to Arlington Park, where Martin wanted to run him in the Arlington Million in August. But California Chrome was taken out of training with bone bruising, then sent to Kentucky to Taylor Made Farm, which bought out minority owner and co-breeder Steve Coburn.

After recuperating at Taylor Made, California Chrome returned to Sherman’s barn at Los Alamitos.

Sherman on Saturday said California Chrome will “get fit quickly” en route to a return to racing. Sherman has mentioned the San Pasqual Stakes in early January at Santa Anita as a potential comeback race.

California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2014, then later that year secured titles as Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male with a victory in the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 29. He has had just two starts since then. Prior to going to Dubai, he was second to Shared Belief in the San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 7.

Like California Chrome, Shared Belief also has returned to training and is preparing for a return in 2016. He is with trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer at Golden Gate Fields.