Chrome’ Back in Action
After taking the racing world by storm this spring, GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. hero California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) makes his much-anticipated return in Saturday’s GII Pennsylvania Derby.
The flashy chestnut returned to the worktab in early August at Los Alamitos after receiving some down time at Harris Farms in California. He emerged from his dead-heat for fourth in the GI Belmont S. with a minor injury to his right front hoof.
Trainer Art Sherman was as enthusiastic as ever while taking a break from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale after purchasing “another California Chrome” to join the NTRA National Media Teleconference Tuesday.
“He spent five weeks at Harris Farm and received a lot of R&R,” Sherman said after signing the slip on a $160,000 son of Macho Uno on behalf of Edward Allred.
“We were happy about that. He had a great time, got to unwind and got his foot heeled up. That was my main concern, to make sure that he’d be 100%. They did a great job with him.”
California Chrome has posted six workouts since, headed by a four-furlong bullet in :47 2/5 Aug. 22 and a six-furlong bullet in 1:10 1/5 Sept. 6.
“His last two or three have been awesome,” Sherman said. “He’s picking his head up now and reaching his peak. [Jockey] Victor [Espinoza] was all gung-ho about his last work [six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 at Los Alamitos Sept. 13]. We’re in good shape, ready for Saturday. We didn’t draw the best position [post one] in the world, but we’ll see how the race unfolds.”
As for choosing this spot and shipping back to the East Coast instead of staying home for a showdown with unbeaten champion Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) and older horses in Santa Anita’s GI Awesome Again S. Sept. 27, Sherman added, “I really think the Awesome Again is going to come up a lot tougher than this race. That’s my personal opinion. I’m looking forward to the competition–straight 3-year-olds. Why do I have to hook the older horses before the Breeders’ Cup? For a million dollars versus $300,000, you have to take a shot here.”
Sherman remains confident that California Chrome is as popular as ever despite his loss in the Belmont with the Triple Crown on the line and co-owner/breeder Steve Coburn’s well-documented controversially remarks afterward.
“It’s been a great ride and I’m sure if he had the chance to do it again that he’d never do it,” Sherman said of Coburn. “You ought to see the crowd out there when I worked California Chrome between races at Los Alamitos. He’s the people’s horse.”
Sherman concluded, “When he runs, I have a lot of confidence in him. I’m not worried that he could get outrun. If he gets outrun, he gets outrun. But they’re gonna have to have their running shoes on.”