Kentucky Derby: California Chrome back home for stretch run

CYPRESS, Calif. – They have been running Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos since 1951, have mixed in Thoroughbreds over the years, and once had harness racing here, too. But when you drive down Katella Avenue and reach the turnoff for the racetrack, an electronic sign at the corner boasts that Los Alamitos is the “home of California Chrome.”

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Los Alamitos has bragging rights that it is his home, but California Chrome has bragging rights that he’s certainly the best 3-year-old on the West Coast, and the likely favorite for the May 3 Kentucky Derby, following his powerhouse victory in the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday.

California Chrome was back at Los Alamitos before nightfall on Saturday night, and early Sunday morning, his trainer, Art Sherman – unable to sleep – made his way to the track to make sure all was well. Then he relaxed anew.

“I got up at 2:30, and was here by 3:30. He got banged around yesterday, so I wanted to feel his ankles, his knees,” Sherman said at Los Alamitos on Sunday morning. “Everything was good and cold. You get nervous. Even though I’ve got great help, and the kids went over him last night and said he was fine -- said don’t worry -- there’s nothing like checking him out yourself.”

Sherman liked what he saw Sunday morning. He really liked what he saw Saturday afternoon. And, less than four weeks out from the Kentucky Derby, he likes where he sits.

“Now I feel good. I’m ready for the onslaught,” he said.

The onslaught was in full force Sunday morning. Although just a handful of reporters dropped by to see Sherman, his phone rang incessantly, and he realized requests would only grow more frequent in coming weeks. Like Shug McGaughey last year, though, Sherman seems to be in a good place heading into the final Derby push. Win or lose, he wants to enjoy the experience.

“I’ve made up my mind that at this stage of my life, I just want to enjoy it,” said Sherman, 77. “I’ve got a lot of friends who aren’t even here anymore. It’s been a long time coming. I’m just enjoying the ride. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”

Sherman relocated to Los Alamitos when Hollywood Park closed for training earlier this year. He loves the dirt surface here, so much so that he said California Chrome will do all his serious Derby preparation here.

“It’s very relaxing here,” he said. “I’m not going to go back to Churchill Downs early. I’ll wait until that week. I won’t breeze him there. I’ll school him in the paddock there, stand him in the gate, but he’ll have all his works here.”

California Chrome earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 107 for his win in the Santa Anita Derby. Sherman said his favorite part of the race was seeing the acceleration of California Chrome when he opened up on his rivals at the top of the stretch under jockey Victor Espinoza.

“That’s what blew my mind,” Sherman said. “He was in contention, Victor hadn’t moved on him. And then, Jiminy Cricket, he’s six in front. I don’t know how he did that so quickly. You’re seeing it, but you don’t believe it.”

Hoppertunity, who finished second in the Santa Anita Derby, and Candy Boy, who was third, are both going to point to the Kentucky Derby.

As with California Chrome, Hoppertunity has sufficient points -- on the system used by Churchill Downs -- to make the Derby field if more than the maximum 20 horses enter the race, so he’s safely in.

Candy Boy is in a more precarious position. He has 30 points, which will probably put him near the bubble after the final round of 170-point preps next weekend, so he will likely need some defections from horses currently above him to get in.