California Chrome works seven furlongs ahead of Awesome Again Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome, currently ranked the best horse in the world, completed his serious preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita with a seven-furlong drill in 1:26.40 early Saturday morning at Los Alamitos.

California Chrome, per usual, had the track to himself shortly after the track opened for training at 5:30 a.m. With regular exercise rider Dihigi Gladney aboard, he broke off at the six-furlong pole and recorded splits – according to head clocker Russell Hudak – of 25.20 seconds, 49.20, 1:01, and 1:13 before going out a furlong past the wire to complete the drill.

“Just a maintenance work, not going for a lot,” said trainer Art Sherman. “No need to do much. If he’s not tight by this time of year, I’m in trouble.”

California Chrome most recently won the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, his fifth win in five starts this year. The Awesome Again will be six weeks after the Pacific Classic and five in front of the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Classic, California Chrome’s major fall objective.

The Classic, like the Awesome Again, is at Santa Anita.

Sherman said California Chrome would ship to Santa Anita on Sunday morning. He will gallop there during the mornings this coming week, in addition to schooling in the paddock, his usual itinerary the week of a race.

After the Awesome Again, California Chrome will again return to Los Alamitos and do all his serious training here in advance of the Breeders’ Cup.

“That’s worked out pretty good for him,” Sherman said. “He’ll do all his work here.”

If California Chrome, 5, wins the Awesome Again and Classic, he will be a cinch to be named Horse of the Year, the title he earned in 2014, the year he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.