By Steve Sherack
ARCADIA, Ca – If the laughter coming from the chute as California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) was gate schooling at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday morning was any indication, it's pretty safe to say that the father-and-son training duo of Art and Alan Sherman are feeling pretty good heading in to Saturday's $6-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
Jockey Victor Espinoza and Taylor Made's Frank Taylor joined the small crowd back at the Sherman barn as the 2014 Horse of the Year was getting cleaned up following his routine 1 5/8-mile gallop on a brisk morning in Southern California as temperatures hovered in the low 50s.
Ramon Dominguez was one of many on site taking in the action from Clockers' Corner. The newly minted Hall of Fame rider won three Breeders' Cup races during his brilliant career, including a 17-1 upset aboard Little Mike in the 2012 Turf at the Great Race Place.
Owners Barbara Banke, Everett Dobson, Robert Masterson and Eclipse Thoroughbred's Aron Wellman, as well as bloodstock agent Steve Young and Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning, Jr. have also been spotted during training hours this week.
Unbeaten juveniles Gormley (Malibu Moon), 'TDN Rising Star' Theory (Gemologist) and Three Rules (Gone Astray), meanwhile, all made their presence felt as they get ready to lock horns in one of the more highly anticipated races of the weekend, the GI Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Fellow 'Rising Star' Wellabled (Shackleford) also appeared in good form, as he will attempt to stretch his speed in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
A. P. Indian (Indian Charlie)'s exercise rider had a big smile on his face as the streaking two-time Grade I winner powered down the stretch. 'TDN Rising Star' Drefong (Gio Ponti) bounded off the track with very good energy as he gets ready to take on his elders in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, including the aforementioned Green Lantern homebred.
Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) will clearly have to step up his game in the Classic, but he continues to give off very good vibes each morning. Effinex (Mineshaft), second behind Hoppertunity in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, took in the beautiful scenery at Santa Anita before heading off on a cloudless morning as temperatures began to quickly rise with the sun out in full force.
Owners Dean Reeves and Randy Hill and trainer Kathy Ritvo kept a close eye on Spain Burg (Fr) (Sageburg {Ire}), a recent $1.686-million Arqana Arc Sale purchase, as she trained and gate schooled for Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Sad news emerged late in the morning out of the Metaboss (Street Boss) camp, as Mersad Metanovic announced via Twitter that the 2015 GIII El Camino Real Derby hero would miss the Turf and was officially retired after getting injured early Wednesday.
Trainer Chad Brown decided to save the best for last as Lady Eli (Divine Park) put on a show with a powerful gallop in her first trip over the track just after 9:30 a.m. She is listed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite, as her dramatic comeback continues in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
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