Leading older horse California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) breezed five panels in 1:00.60 (10/28) at Los Alamitos Racecourse Saturday morning in his final official work ahead of the local Winter Challenge S. Dec. 17. With regular exercise pilot Dihigi Gladney up, North America's all-time leading money earner was clocked in splits of :24 4/5 and :48 4/5 with a 1:13 2/5 six-furlong gallop-out. “Chrome looked like he was well in hand,” offered trainer Art Sherman. “He just does what he has to do in the morning.” A strong second to 'TDN Rising Star' Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) in the Nov. 5 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, California Chrome will use the Winter Challenge–which carries a $100,000 purse and was created for him–as a stepping stone to a potential rematch with his Classic foe in Gulstream's $12-million GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 28. “The race next Saturday will be our big tune up for the Pegasus,” Sherman confirmed. “I just hope we have a safe trip and everyone has an enjoyable time. I'm looking forward to running him here in Orange County. I know he has a lot of fans. I think it will be a great day.”
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