A Final Derby For Chrome

Will he be as keen on the green? That is the question facing gamblers and race fans, in general, as Steven Coburn and Perry Martin’s dual Classic winner California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) tests the turf for the first time against just five rivals in today’s GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. Though is set to open as the 4-5 wagering favorite, the race appears to be anything but a walkover given the question marks and the presence of Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}), who has already beaten the boys once this year in the Queen’s Plate. 

While California Chrome will have some doubters this afternoon, his trainer Art Sherman is optimistic things will go his way. “He’s the kind of horse you don’t have to take his racetrack with him. It gives another direction to go with him if he handles the grass,” the conditioner told Bill Finley for the ‘Down the Stretch’ satellite radio program. “He looked good when he worked, he was as smooth as glass on it. He didn’t work fast, but I didn’t want him to work very fast. I didn’t press on him at all. The clockers loved his work–more than I did. I’ve just got a big feeling that the grass will be up his alley. Just the way he moves his legs, his feet don’t lift far off the ground when he runs. I just think he’ll enjoy the grass.” 

Lexie Lou has won three of her last four tries, including a three-length defeat of her Ontario-bred peers in her turf bow in the Wonder Where S. going 10 panels Aug. 10, but perhaps she failed to get over the rain-affected grass when a distant last of 10 in the GII Canadian S. Sept. 14. The bay was an easy 1 1/4-length winner of the GIII Autumn Miss S. back in against her peers Oct. 25 at Santa Anita, and trainer Mark Casse will run here in favor of Sunday’s GI Matriarch S. While Sawyer’s Hill (Spring At Last) and Flamboyant (Fr) (Peer Gynt {Jpn}) exit second- and fourth-place efforts, respectively, in the GII Twilight Derby Oct. 31, Cabral (Henrythenavigator) is totally under the radar here. The bay did not handle the considerable cut in the ground when ninth in the GIII Hill Prince S. at Belmont Oct. 4, but rallied smartly to be third in this track’s one-mile Let It Ride S. Nov. 8. The shape of this race is more questionable, but