California Chrome works easy five furlongs in prep for San Antonio Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome is all set to make his first start since being named Horse of the Year as he completed his serious training for Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita with an easy five-furlong workout Sunday morning at Los Alamitos.

With jockey Victor Espinoza aboard, California Chrome was timed in 1:01.60, including a final furlong that trainer Art Sherman had in 11.80 seconds. But it was the gallop out that was particularly noteworthy as California Chrome – who had been under restraint by Espinoza during the drill – went out six furlongs in 1:14, obviously eager to do a whole lot more.

“He’s been that way all the time in his last works. He’s a hickory kind of horse in the morning,” Sherman said. “He’s doing very, very good right now.”

Sherman said California Chrome would be sent by van to Santa Anita late Tuesday morning and would train at Santa Anita the rest of the week, with his pre-race preparation to include schooling sessions in the paddock. Sherman’s son and top assistant, Alan, will be with California Chrome while he is at Santa Anita, mirroring what was done both last spring before California Chrome won the Santa Anita Derby and last fall when California Chrome was a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In his only start following the Breeders’ Cup Classic, California Chrome won the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar, his first start on grass, which gave him four Grade 1 wins for the year, gave him his first victory since the Preakness Stakes, and likely helped sway undecided voters into his corner to secure both Horse of the Year and the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male.

“It’s pretty amazing to know he’s Horse of the Year,” Sherman said. “That meant a lot to me. It’s very cool to know that many people follow the horse. He’s got quite the fan base. I think you’ll see that Saturday.”

California Chrome has won three times in five starts at Santa Anita. His victory in the Santa Anita Derby was his final prep before capturing the Kentucky Derby.

His rivals in the San Antonio are expected to include Shared Belief, who suffered the only loss of his career in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Shared Belief is trained and co-owned by Jerry Hollendorfer. He and Sherman are very good friends.

“Me and Jerry got a big grudge match,” Sherman said, laughing. “It’s coming down to the nitty-gritty.”