California Chrome works half-mile in 47.40; Dec. 17 stakes looks likely

CYPRESS, Calif. - California Chrome worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds at Los Alamitos before dawn Saturday, a quick and somewhat routine exercise for the popular 5-year-old at his home track.

Los Alamitos is increasingly likely to be the site of California Chrome’s next race. Track officials are planning a stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 17 designed to give California Chrome a start in California before his career-final race in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28. He will go to stud in Kentucky in 2017.

Los Alamitos has yet to formally announce the Dec. 17 event, though track officials have been working behind the scenes to finalize details.

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, has been based at Los Alamitos since early 2014 when training in California, but has never raced at the Orange County track.

In his last start, California Chrome was second to Arrogate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, his first loss in seven starts this year.

California Chrome was ridden Saturday by exercise rider Dihigi Gladney, who found his mount tough to restrain while galloping on the backstretch before the workout. Once into the workout, California Chrome worked quickly while running next to the rail.

Alan Sherman, assistant to his father, trainer Art Sherman, timed California Chrome in 35.40 seconds for the first three furlongs and in 46.60 for a half-mile. Officially, California Chrome worked the first quarter-mile in 24.40 seconds, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.60.

“He was floating today,” Alan Sherman said. “Chrome is ready to go.

“He’s always worked pretty good. There’s never been a work that gave you concern.”

Owned by Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farm, California Chrome will have two additional workouts before Dec. 17.

“I’m glad he can run here and fill the grandstand, I hope,” Sherman said.

California Chrome is tentatively scheduled to be shipped to Gulfstream Park the first week of January, Sherman said.

California Chrome has won 15 of 25 starts and has earned $14,452,650, the richest career earnings for a North American-based Thoroughbred. With the rich purse in the Pegasus World Cup, his earnings could soar before he goes to stud.

Sherman is looking forward to the Pegasus World Cup and another expected encounter with Arrogate, who beat California Chrome by a half-length in the BC Classic.

“It wouldn’t hurt my feelings to see Arrogate in there,” Sherman said. “I’m not scared.”

Gladney, who has been California Chrome’s exercise rider for more than a year, is equally enthusiastic about the horse’s condition and a possible rematch with Arrogate.

“He’s at 100 percent, not that he wasn’t going into that race,” he said “I’m still crying. I bought stock in Kleenex. We have to regroup and retry.”