Last Morning at Pimlico for California Chrome
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California Chrome at the barn with Art Sherman and Willie Delgado. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Fresh off his Preakness victory, California Chrome was in good form as he walked the Pimlico shedrow Monday on his last morning in Baltimore, Md. The flashy chestnut colt will board a van bound for Belmont Park early Tuesday.
He was attended to by assistant trainer Alan Sherman and groom Raul Rodriguez as well as trainer Art Sherman during the morning’s activities. Sherman returns to his home base at Los Alamitos in California today and will fly to New York in two weeks. His son, Alan Sherman, will stay to supervise the colt’s training ahead of the June 7 Belmont Stakes. The younger Sherman was pleased with California Chrome’s energy and attitude.
“He came out of that race great, feeling good,” Sherman said. “He is usually tired for a few days but he was feeling really good. I am starting to realize the significance of it all. It has been a great ride this horse has put us on and I never fathomed we would be one race away from winning the Triple Crown.”
After impressive victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, California Chrome seeks to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first in 36 years. He’ll face a bevy of fresh competitors in the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes as well as a few familiar foes.
One of those is Ride On Curlin, seventh in the Derby and second in the Preakness. The Billy Gowan trainee will board the same Belmont-bound van as California Chrome Tuesday after walking the shedrow Monday. Preakness third-place finisher Social Inclusion is scheduled to head to New York on Sunday.