Chrome’ Returns at Parx

Steve Coburn and Perry Martin’s California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) faces a strong field of eight foes as he makes his racetrack return in today’s $1 million GI Pennsylvania Derby. The GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. hero has not been seen since finishing a disappointing dead-heat fourth in his Triple Crown try in the June 7 GI Belmont S. The chestnut homebred was a perfect five-for-five in 2014 before the “Test of the Champion,” including romping wins in the 
GII San Felipe S. in March and GI Santa Anita Derby in April going this 1 1/8-mile distance. California Chrome will be the first Kentucky Derby winner to compete at the Bensalem oval after a successful run for the roses. “He hasn’t changed a whole lot [since the Triple Crown],” said Alan Sherman, assistant trainer to his father Art. “His weight is just about perfect and he’s so good mentally. He’s just a cool horse to be around. It makes our job a lot easier.” Kaleem Shah’s “TDN Rising Star” Bayern (Offlee Wild) also looks to reverse form after an off effort. Ninth with a rough trip in the Preakness, the dark bay bounced back to romp in the seven-furlong GII Woody Stephens S. by 7 1/2 lengths. He aired by a similar margin in the GI Haskell Invitational S. July 27 over nine furlongs at speed-friendly Monmouth Park, but stopped to last in the Aug. 23 GI Travers S. after being hounded early by Belmont winner Tonalist (Tapit). The Bob Baffert pupil fired a five-furlong bullet in :58.60 at Santa Anita Sept. 14, and it’s not a question of whether or not he’ll be in front, but merely for how long that lead will last. “If there is any time to do it, it’d probably be now,” Baffert’s assistant Jim Barnes said of taking on California Chrome. “He is coming off a layoff… We’re ready to take him on.” Winchell homebred Tapiture (Tapit) would benefit from a quick pace. The Steve Asmussen representative appeared to be a major force on the Triple Crown trail with an open-length score in the GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn in February, but came up one slot short in the following month’s GII Rebel S. before finishing off the board in the GI Arkansas Derby and GI Kentucky Derby. He was given a successful confidence builder in the GIII Matt Winn S. under the Twin Spires June 14, and extricated himself from a jackpot in upper stretch to out-nose Candy Boy (Candy Ride) in the GII West Virginia Derby Aug. 2. The top two from that heat, as well as fourth finisher Classic Giacnroll (Giacomo), were flattered when third-place Vicar’s In Trouble (Into Mischief) returned to romp in the GII Super Derby Sept. 6. Sumaya US Stable’s Protonico (Giant’s Causeway) is an up-and-coming sort for Todd Pletcher. The dark bay took a Belmont optional claimer June 25 in his first start after owner Oussama Aboughazale gave up training duties, and was just a head back in third behind Travers winner V. E. Day (English Channel) in the July 25 Curlin S. Protonico is the only runner here with a win over the track, having rallied impressively to overtake the aforementioned Classic Giacnroll in the Sept. 1 GIII Smarty Jones S.