Countdown to the Crown

California Chrome Sharp In Belmont Breeze…

California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) appeared sharp in his lone breeze ahead of next Saturday’s GI Belmont S., going a half-mile in :47.69 early yesterday morning at Belmont Park (video). With Victor Espinoza in the irons, the handsome chestnut colt continued with good energy past the wire, with gallop-out times of :59.93 for five furlongs, three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.95 and seven panels in 1:26.28. There was a tailwind down the homestretch. 

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Alan Sherman, son of and assistant to trainer Art Sherman, who is scheduled to arrive in New York from California on Monday. “He galloped out great and [we got] exactly what we wanted today.” 
California Chrome worked without the blinkers he’ll wear on race day “so he wouldn’t go too fast,” Sherman explained. 
Espinoza, who arrived in New York Friday night and will make several public appearances in the city throughout the upcoming week, was equally happy with what he felt underneath him. 

“It was great,” he said. “I started not too fast. We were going :12, :12, :12. We picked it up a little at the end. Across the wire I dropped the reins a little bit. That’s what he always does.” 

Espinoza was the regular rider of 2002 Triple Crown aspirant War Emblem, but likes his chances now more than he did first time around. 

“I’m more confident this time than in 2002,” said Espinoza, who is scheduled to throw out the first pitch at the New York Yankees game on Monday evening and also has a guest appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday night. “With War Emblem, he only had one way to go: in the front. It was not that easy for me to ride him; it was difficult [which is] typical when you have a front-running horse. You don’t have many options. If something happens, that’s it. Your chances are gone. With California Chrome, it’s different. I have a lot of options with California Chrome. I believe I have a better chance than I did in 2002 because I have a different kind of horse.” 

Ton’-ing Up at Big Sandy… 
   “TDN Rising Star” Tonalist (Tapit), the May 10 GII Peter Pan S. winner who many believe represents the best chance of foiling this year’s Triple Crown, worked five furlongs in the company of Sir Barton S. runner-up Life in Shambles (Broken Vow) in 1:00.11 Saturday morning at Belmont Park. “We are excited about the work and excited about the horse,” said trainer Christophe Clement, who sent out Dynever (Dynaformer) to a fourth-place effort behind Empire Maker (Unbridled) in the 2003 Belmont. “I got him in a minute and am very happy about everything. He went in company with Life in Shambles and it was a good work.” 

Samraat Goes In Quieter Environs… 
    While some of the heavy hitters were taking to the Belmont main track Saturday morning, My Meadowview Farm’s Samraat (Noble Causeway) was doing his thing a few miles down the Cross Island Parkway in the relative peace at Aqueduct, where, in what has become his routine, the homebred colt worked a mile in 1:47.55. Samraat has worked over eight furlongs in his final work prior to each of his last four trips to the post.  “It was very, very good,” said trainer Rick Violette Jr. “He went the last quarter in :24, which was just what we were looking for. He didn’t break any stop watches, but it was pretty cool.” Perfect through the first five starts of his career, Samraat defeated Uncle Sigh (Indian Charlie) in memorable battles in the GIII Withers S. Feb. 1 and in the GIII Gotham S. Mar. 1 ahead of a runner-up effort behind Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) in the GI TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial S. Apr. 5. The dark bay colt was a respectable fifth, beaten 5 3/4 lengths by California Chrome in the GI Kentucky Derby May 3 and bypassed the GI Preakness S. in favor of training up to the ‘Test of the Champion.’ 

Social Inclusion Decision Pending… 
    Rontos Racing Corp’s Social Inclusion (Pioneerof the Nile) tore a hole in the wind Saturday morning at Belmont Park, where he was credited with a three-furlong workout in a race-like :33.55. NYRA clockers caught the colt in :45 2/5 for a half-mile and 1:09 4/5 for six furlongs. “We weren’t expecting him to go that fast,” said owner Ron Sanchez. “The horse was real good. The track was lightning fast, and that was the best gallop out he’s ever had. He showed them this morning how good he is feeling.” Sanchez told the press that a decision on whether he goes in the Belmont or the GII Woody Stephens S. over seven furlongs would come no later than Sunday. Third in the Wood Memorial, Social Inclusion also rounded out the triple in the GI Preakness S. May 17. 

General a Rod Added to the Mix… 
    Starlight Racing and Skychai Racing’s General a Rod (Roman Ruler), most recently a well-beaten fourth in the GI Preakness S. May 17, was added to the prospective Belmont line-up after breezing five furlongs in 1:00.20 Saturday morning under the watchful eye of trainer Mike Maker at the Trackside Training Center not far from Churchill Downs. Maker said that Rosie Napravnik will have the mount in the Belmont. Maker has saddled just one other Belmont starter, Stately Victor (Ghostzapper), who was seventh in 2010. “I see no reason not to go,” Maker said. “There was no reason to rush into a decision, in my opinion. We waited it out, and the horse told us to go. I felt good before the Preakness and I feel good before the Belmont. One of these times we’re going to have a clean run and go from there.” Second to Wildcat Red (D’wildcat) in the GII Fountain of Youth S. and third in the GI Florida Derby, General a Rod was a troubled 11th in the GI Kentucky Derby and most recently fourth in the Preakness. 

Medal Count On Track Following Churchill Move… 
    Spendthrift Farm LLC’s Medal Count (Dynaformer), most recently eighth, beaten 7 1/2 lengths in the 
GI Kentucky Derby, completed his Belmont S. preparations by breezing six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.60 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. The GIII Transylvania S. winner and GI Toyota Blue Grass S. runner-up went in splits of :34.20 and :57.80 before galloping out seven-eighths of a mile in 1:24 and the mile in 1:39. While initially on the fence regarding a run in the Belmont, trainer Dale Romans gradually warmed up to the idea.  “Coming out of the Derby, I didn’t know what I was going to do with him that day,” Romans admitted. “After a couple days, he got back to training and he was doing so well. I went back and watched the Derby two or three times and he obviously should have been right there. He wasn’t going to beat the winner but I think he could have possibly been second and obviously been third.” 
There are more practical reasons as well from Romans’ perspective. “It puts him in the stallion barn if he wins,” Romans offered. “He’s a son of Dynaformer, so going to stud, he could do a lot for the breed, especially one that can run on dirt. That’s one of the biggest losses with Barbaro because if he could have been saved then we could have put him into the bloodline. I think it would have made it such a more heart bloodline. We need a Roberto-line sire to pick it up and go, and chances are there aren’t that many left.” Medal Count’s owner B. Wayne Hughes also stands Temple City (Dynaformer) at his Kentucky nursery. Romans confirmed that Robby Albarado would have the call in the Belmont.