California Chrome 'Tight Enough' for Dubai
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Art Sherman wasn't convinced California Chrome was quite ready for his last race, a 1 1/2-length second-place finish to Shared Belief in the San Antonio Invitational Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park.
But the trainer believes the 2014 Horse of the Year is back on track after arguably his best workout of the year—a bullet six furlongs in 1:11—March 6 at Los Alamitos Race Course.
"I just didn't think he was tight enough last time out against Shared Belief," said Sherman, who noted the 4-year-old Lucky Pulpit colt galloped out seven furlongs in 1:24 2/5 . "Right now, he's actually doing pretty good. I want him to get it back together and as tight as he needs to be for Dubai."
The 15-hour plane ride to Meydan Racecourse for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 28, among other things, is a concern for Sherman, who admits he is working with a lot of unknowns because he has never trained a horse for the overseas race.
"Well, you just don't know," Sherman said. "But that's just like anything else. The plane ride, the running at night, no medications, a different track—it's all different."
Sherman said California Chrome will have one more seven-furlong breeze at Los Alamitos before flying to Dubai March 17.