California Chrome on Schedule at Belmont Park
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Triple Crown hopeful California Chrome May 28 picked back up where he left off the previous day, showing the same eagerness he displayed when galloping his customary two-mile circuit on an overcast morning at Belmont Park.
"Yesterday he pulled, and today he pulled farther," said California Chrome's exercise rider Willie Delgado. "And then he pulled up and he wasn't even blowing out a match. Fitness wise, he's fit. Come the day of the race, like I always said, it's all up to him and God. I can't say enough. He's really, really improving. Like I've always said, after each race he got better. He's put on weight, he's gotten stronger."
The 3-year-old Lucky Pulpit colt is trying to become the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years after sweeping the first two jwels in sensational fashion.
"He went really strong today; he was feeling good," said assistant trainer Alan Sherman, son of trainer Art Sherman.
The Belmont Stakes field got a little deeper in the past week with the additions of Matterhorn, Matuszak, and Medal Count, but Sherman remained unfazed.
"It's going to be a tough race; they're all good horses," said Sherman. "All we have to do is just do our thing and have him run his race and I think we'll be all right."
The chestnut colt, owned by Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, is to have an official workout at Belmont Saturday at a time that, according to Alan Sherman, will depend on when jockey Victor Espinoza arrives.
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