By Steve Sherack
Here comes the 2014 Horse of the Year.
California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) was given an official clocking for five furlongs in 1:01 (16/38) at Los Alamitos Dec. 5, his fourth breeze since mid-November.
Last year's GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. hero–sidelined since a runner-up effort in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 28–is currently being aimed at Santa Anita's GII San Pasqual S. Jan. 9.
“I gotta tell 'ya, the horse is just training like a beast,” said Alan Sherman, longtime assistant to his father, trainer Art Sherman. “He's grown up and he's stronger. Right now, I couldn't ask him to look any better than he does. I think it's gonna be a fun year next year.”
A return voyage to Meydan for the world's richest race is also in the cards for California Chrome in 2016. Like two-time Horse of the Year and 2008 World Cup hero Curlin (Smart Strike), having a local prep race is in the itinerary.
“Hopefully, he'll be ready for the San Pasqual,” Sherman commented. “It'll be close, but I think he should be ready with no setbacks. Then, we're headed to Dubai Jan. 21. We'll be there for over two months. The plan is to get at least one prep into him over there. That's the gameplan right now. We're going to try and do the same thing that Curlin did.”
After posting a brilliant campaign at three–which also included an easy win in the grassy GI Hollywood Derby and a close third in a roughly run renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic–California Chrome faced the starter only twice in 2015. Along with his aforementioned second-place finish to Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the World Cup, he was also a valiant runner-up behind the ill-fated champion Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) in a memorable showdown in the GII San Antonio Invitational S. in early February.
Scratched from the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in June with a minor foot issue, he was subsequently given the remainder of the season off due to slight bone bruising of his cannon bones. It was announced over the summer that Taylor Made Farm had acquired Steve and Carolyn Coburn's minority interest in California Chrome, while Perry and Denise Martin, who co-bred the flashy chestnut with the Coburns, retained their 70% share.
“Oh man, he's been unbelievable,” Sherman continued. “Taylor Made did such a good job with him when he was turned out. He came in and he looked fantastic. He's trained really forwardly up to this point.”
Sherman concluded, “It's just been awesome since he's been back in the barn. Not only for me, but everybody. It's fun to have him back. You don't come around these kind of horses very often. You miss them when they're gone and obviously it's always short lived. You get two or three years with them and then they retire. It's just nice to be able to enjoy it while we can.”
While a month out from his highly anticipated comeback, it sounds like the fun has already begun back in the Sherman barn.
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