Dubai an option for California Chrome

CYPRESS, Calif. – In his first workout since being named 2014 Horse of the Year and winning the Eclipse Award for outstanding 3-year-old male on Saturday, California Chrome worked seven furlongs in 1:27.20 at Los Alamitos on Monday. He went well in hand under jockey Victor Espinoza, continuing to impress trainer Art Sherman in advance of a scheduled comeback in the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 7.

The Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/8 miles may turn out to be California Chrome’s only race in the United States in the spring. Sherman said on Monday that California Chrome could start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 28.

“I don’t know what we’ll do yet,” Sherman said. “We’ll have to wait and see after the San Antonio.”

If California Chrome does not go to Dubai, one option is the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.

On Monday, California Chrome worked alone at 8 a.m. and was the only horse allowed on the track for several minutes after a renovation break. The workout was not as quick as some of his recent efforts over shorter distances.

California Chrome worked the first quarter-mile in 25.20 seconds, a half-mile in 50.60, and six furlongs in 1:14.20. He ran off the rail and was not urged by Espinoza.

“I thought he’d go a little quicker than that, but he had a good hold on him,” Sherman said.

Espinoza said he did not allow California Chrome to run too freely.

“I wanted to start as slow as possible,” Espinoza said. “I wanted to go steady. He’s getting stronger. I have to take a strong hold to slow him down.”

Sherman plans two more workouts at Los Alamitos for California Chrome before the colt is shipped to Santa Anita several days before the San Antonio. At Santa Anita, he will gallop and be schooled in the gate.

Owned by Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome has won 9 of 16 starts and $4,222,650. California Chrome has not raced since winning the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 29. He was third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, his most recent start on dirt.