'Cali' Chrome, Candy Boy Work for SA Derby
Image:
Description:
California Chrome and Candy Boy, who figure to be the top two betting choices in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park, had their penultimate workouts March 22 for the $1 million race on April 5, California Chrome going a half-mile at his Los Alamitos headquarters and Candy Boy working six furlongs at Santa Anita.
The California-bred California Chrome, winner of three straight stakes including the March 8 San Felipe (gr. II), went a half under regular rider Victor Espinoza in :47 2/5, while Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) winner Candy Boy went in company and was clocked in 1:12 4/5 under Hall of Fame Gary Stevens, who will seek to add to his Santa Anita Derby record of nine victories in the West Coast's major steppingstone to the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
"Very good" is how trainer Art Sherman termed California Chrome's move. "I got him galloping out (five furlongs) in 1:00 2/5. He was not wearing blinkers, because I didn't want him to work too fast, but he'll wear them in the Santa Anita Derby.
"He'll have one more half-mile work next Saturday (March 29) and ship to Santa Anita five days before the race."
"Very nice," trainer John Sadler said of Candy Boy's move. "He'll have one more work before the Santa Anita Derby and we're ready to go."
Stevens called the work "solid."
Maiden winner Big Tire, a candidate for the Santa Anita Derby, worked five furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:01 2/5 for Mark Glatt.