Sherack at the Belmont Stakes: Calm Before the Chrome

   With six potential GI Belmont S. starters taking it easy a day after breezing, it was a fairly quiet morning six days out from California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit)’s date with destiny in Elmont, N.Y. 
   On an absolutely spectacular morning with temperatures in the 60s and cloudless skies above, the GI Kentucky Derby/ Preakness S. victor made his way from Barn 26 through the scenic Belmont backstretch with assistant trainer Alan Sherman–sporting a Los Alamitos cap–on the shank shortly after 6 a.m. 
   A surprisingly small group of media representatives (there may have been more security personnel in pursuit) as well as Ride on Curlin (Curlin)’s trainer Billy Gowan made the walk over to Big Sandy as the sun continued to rise by the clubhouse turn. 
   There were plenty of photographers, however, awaiting California Chrome’s arrival near the gap, and just as he’s done during his previous victorious stops in Louisville and Baltimore, the flashy chestnut paused a couple of times and ate up every second of the attention. 
   After receiving his daily dose of love from exercise rider Willie Delgado, the Coburn and Martin homebred returned to the track for the first time since Saturday’s sharp four-furlong breeze in :47.61 just as impressive GII Peter Pan S. winnerTonalist (Tapit) was completing his routine gallop at around 6:20 a.m. 
   With Sherman watching from the clocker stand alongside current barnmate Kelly Breen–trainer of 2011 Belmont S. upsetter Ruler On Ice (Roman Ruler)–California Chrome began to jog the wrong way along the outer rail. He quickly disappeared while making his way around the massive 1 1/2-mile oval as conditioner Barclay Tagg chatted with assistant Robin Smullen aboard a pair of stable ponies (has it really been 11 years since Funny Cide’s Triple Crown bid?). 
   Immediately met on the track by Sherman following his light piece of exercise approximately 10 minutes later, about 15 photographers voyaged back to California Chrome’s current digs (also the home of the aforementioned Preakness runner-up) and lined up behind a white fence to get a shot of the big horse’s bath session while Sherman remained on the shank. 
   Meanwhile, Social Inclusion (Pioneerof the Nile)–currently under consideration for either the final leg of the Triple Crown or the seven-furlong GII Woody Stephens S. on the undercard–quietly made his way to the track just before 7 a.m. Trainer Manny Azpurua couldn’t have been pleased while watching from the clocker stand as the Preakness third-place finisher was on his worst behavior during a gate schooling session (he’s been asked to return later this week), further casting doubt on his Belmont S. participation. 
   While that may’ve concluded the limited morning activity of Belmont S. contenders yesterday, there was still some serious star power on display during the training hours to come. Goldencents (Into Mischief), an impressive victor of last term’s GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita, looked plenty fit during a strong 7:40 a.m. gallop in preparation of what promises to be a loaded renewal of the GI Metropolitan H. The handsome blaze-faced bay has been off since a disappointing seventh as the 3-1 favorite in the GI Cigar Mile H. at the Big A Nov. 30. 
   Gary Stevens, who has experienced both sides with Triple Crowns on the line (think Victory Gallop and Silver Charm), briefly checked in on the action with riding crop in hand from behind the rail at the clubhouse turn gap. The Hall of Fame rider chatted with several in attendance, including trainer Bobby Barbara and Social Inclusion’s owner Ron Sanchez. Currently left without a mount for the big one, Stevens explained to Barbara his disappointment upon learning of the career-ending injury to Intense Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday) via a “TDN Alert” following a recent workout. After receiving a heads-up that two-time champion and GI Ogden Phipps S.-bound Beholder (Henny Hughes) would be schooling in the paddock and breezing following the break (much-appreciated, Gary), the stage was set for a fantastic preview of things to come this weekend. 
   Close Hatches (First Defence)–a distant second behind Beholder in last November’s GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff and unbeaten in a pair of subsequent attempts at four–took care of business first, hammering a bullet four furlongs in :47 1/5 (1/37). With Richard Mandella keeping a close eye on Beholder’s every move while she was glued to the pony in the paddock, the Spendthrift colorbearer seemed much more at ease once her Hall of Fame trainer grabbed a hold of the reins as it was time to get down to business and head through the tunnel. For Beholder, it was much more of a maintenance work (four furlongs in an easy :49 3/5) as her major preparation was completed in Southern California prior to her Big Apple arrival. 
   With a slew of Belmont S. contenders scheduled to train and an afternoon luncheon featuring the connections of California Chrome in Manhattan, things promise to be in full swing Tuesday. Click here for Monday’s photo page.