Sherman Reflects on Belmont Past and Present

Leaning on the porch railing at Schwanies At The Gap, under a gray blanket of overcast clouds at Los Alamitos Race Course, Art Sherman's essence appears untouched by the magical Triple Crown run 51 weeks ago.



The media hoards have all vanished and the old horseman is wearing an off-white cowboy hat, kibitzing with any of the café's patrons willing to chat. He's had a chance to absorb the whole experience, now that he's actually had time to look back. The mood is part nostalgic, part appreciative, almost all glass-half-full.



"I look at all the things we did and places we got to go," Sherman says. "We've been on the road, going all over. It's been kinda nice."



A year ago, he was in the position of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who will send American Pharoah out in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 6 to seek the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. Sherman, at 78, is rooting for history—although he is more than familiar with the pitfalls.



"It's been fun watching it and it brought back a lot of memories for me. It was quite a ride," Sherman says. "Five weeks for three races—hell, I hardly ever run one race back in five weeks. Now you've got to worry about running three against the best horses in the country. You have to have a special horse and I'm hoping American Pharoah is it. But remember, there's horses waiting in the wings now—fresh horses. He'll have his work cut out for him. Believe me when I say that.



"If he's got the energy, he'll be able to do it. That's the only thing I'm worried about."



Last June 7, California Chrome was fourth, 1 3/4 lengths behind Tonalist, in the most recent Triple Crown heartbreak. But Sherman is not ungrateful.



"I've been in the game a long time," he recalls. "I figured, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be. Racing luck, being where you want to be, and the horse got grabbed a quarter leaving (the gate), with a horse stepping on him. We had obstacles we didn't have before, but that's what horse racing is. You can't get that dream trip every time."



The spring in his voice wanes, albeit not for long, when talk shifts to the current status of his famed pupil. Still training at Newmarket in England, the California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit  , who co-owner Perry Martin calls "America's Horse," will ship to Royal Ascot June 4 to prepare for his upcoming run in the June 17 Prince of Wales Stakes (Eng-I). But Sherman longingly awaits his return to the familiar stall at Los Alamitos.



"I miss him not being in that stall," Sherman said. "I've got a 2-year-old chestnut (Macho Uno   colt) in there that looks just like him. His name is Mucho Chrome. When they told me his name, I had a laugh. 'Boy, you're putting a lot of pressure on him.'"



But the slight sadness doesn't last long, and as positive a person as Sherman is, it's impossible to imagine him staying down for too long. He quickly shifts to how fun the experience at Ascot will be, where he hopes he can meet the Queen.



"She loves California Chrome and the story behind him, so I've got a feeling we'll get a chance to meet her," the conditioner said



The fact that California Chrome is in capable hands in the Rae Guest yard in the picturesque English countryside also makes him happy, but he knows his colt is in for another tough task on the Ascot grass.



"I'm glad he's over there with another trainer, because it's such a different style of training—uphills, downhills, grass courses, dirt courses—you know he's gotta run counter-clockwise now, which, who the hell knows. I'm sure he's enjoying himself. It's a beautiful place to train a horse, but he's still up against the best horses in Europe. They cut their teeth on all those courses."



He's realistic about his horse, as well this year's Triple Crown hopeful, but that won't prevent him from rooting American Pharoah on. And Triple Crown or not, Sherman will be right back at Schwanies the next morning, eager for his other chestnut colt to come home.