California Chrome will work toward San Diego Handicap on Saturday

DEL MAR, Calif. – It has been nearly 20 months since California Chrome last was at Del Mar, but he settled right in after arriving Wednesday afternoon, then took a tour of the main track early Thursday morning as he readies for a key workout on Saturday, one that will be open to the public.

California Chrome is scheduled to work five furlongs at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, shortly after breakfast service in the clubhouse terrace opens at 7:30, and shortly before trainer Art Sherman is scheduled to appear at the track’s popular Donuts at Del Mar, which begins at 8 a.m. at the place the track calls the seaside terrace, near the head of the stretch.

California Chrome is being prepared for the Grade 2, $200,000 San Diego Handicap on July 23, which will mark his first start since capturing the Dubai World Cup at the end of March. His major goal this summer is the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 20, a race that the great mare Beholder – who won the race last year – is pointing to as well.

“He went around really well,” Sherman said after California Chrome went out for his morning exercise. “He’s cool.”

California Chrome scored a key victory here in his final start at age 3. His win on turf in the Hollywood Derby helped secure the title as Horse of the Year for 2014.

Sherman said California Chrome would return to his base at Los Alamitos shortly after the San Diego, then would return to Del Mar about one week in front of the Pacific Classic.