Chrome’ to Return Home

Reigning U.S. Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) will ship from England to Chicago this month to train up to the GI Arlington Million Aug. 15. After an abcess caused him to be a late scratch from last Wednesday’s G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot, California Chrome’s owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin were briefly considering leaving the chomebred in England for Sandown’s G1 Coral-Eclipse S. July 4, but have decided against it and will instead send the chestnut back to America. 

 “California Chrome is recovering well and we hope to have a shoe back on his foot on Monday,” trainer Rae Guest, who has been overseeing the dual Classic winner’s Royal Ascot preparations, told Racing Post. “However, we have run out of time to get him ready for the Eclipse and the decision has been made to send him home.” 

Following a runner-up effort in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 28, California Chrome was shipped directly to Guest’s Newmarket yard to prepare for the Royal meeting. 

Guest continued, “Him missing Royal Ascot was a shame for the meeting, a shame for the owners and a shame for racing. It’s been wonderful being associated with the horse and thanks to Art and the owners for thinking of us.”