California Chrome targets Pennsylvania Derby for return

DEL MAR, Calif. – California Chrome likely will make his next start Sept. 20 in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, trainer Art Sherman said Thursday.

“The money is too good,” he said.

In addition to the purse, the winning owner and trainer of all three Triple Crown races, the Haskell, and Travers get a $50,000 bonus per race for just showing up. Sherman and California Chrome's owners therefore would each earn $100,000 when the horse leaves the starting gate.

The winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in May, California Chrome has not raced since finishing fourth June 7 at Belmont Park in a failed bid for the Triple Crown. California Chrome returned to training after a monthlong break in mid-July and was scheduled to have the third workout of his comeback Friday at Los Alamitos.

Sherman said there is a tight time frame to have California Chrome ready for the Pennsylvania Derby. He said a backup race for the comeback is the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes over 1 1/8 miles against older horses Sept. 20 at Santa Anita. The main goal for the autumn is the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

“It’s going to be close,” he said of preparation for the Pennsylvania Derby. “He’s the kind of horse that can surprise you. I always think I might need one more [workout], but he trains a mile and three-quarters every day. I want to have him at his peak. It’s against straight 3-year-olds. It will be interesting.”

Owned by Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome has won 8 of 13 starts and $3,532,650.

Sherman said in the buildup to the Pennsylvania Derby, California Chrome will have a workout between races – tentatively scheduled for Sept. 6 or 7 – during the Los Alamitos September meeting.