California Chrome Takes Up Residence at Arlington Park

California Chrome and exercise rider Anna Wells at Arlington. (Photo by Four Footed Fotos)
Reigning Horse of the Year California Chrome has returned home to the states, arriving in Chicago from England on Tuesday afternoon. The 4-year-old California-bred colt has the Aug. 15 Arlington Million in his sights after a foot bruise kept him from running in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. Chrome completed three months of training in England immediately following a second-place effort in the Dubai World Cup in March.
California Chrome has entered the quarantine barn at Arlington Park, where he will stay under the care of his longtime groom Raul Rodriguez and exercise rider Anna Wells until he is moved to a regular barn later this week. Trainer Art Sherman’s son and assistant, Alan, is expected to travel to Chicago from the stable’s California base for the colt’s first work currently scheduled for next week.
The Grade 1 Arlington Million is the latest target in an ambitious 2015 campaign for the son of Lucky Pulpit, featuring top-level contests on turf and dirt. Owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn have mapped out a course for the rest of the year that includes the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park and the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, both held in October.
CALIFORNIA CHROME WINS 2014 KENTUCKY DERBY

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
A hero of American racing in 2014, California Chrome captured the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes as part of a six-race win streak. He finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and finished out the year with a win in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in his first try on the turf. The colt was named 2014 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old, beating out Classic victor Bayern and turf menace Main Sequence for top honors.