Chrome Visits Starting Gate, Gallops

California Chrome the morning of May 30. (Photo by Lauren King/NYRA)
A day after schooling in the Belmont Park paddock, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome schooled in the starting gate on Friday in preparation for his bid to sweep the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes on June 7.
The Lucky Pulpit colt visited the starting gate at about 6:40 a.m. Friday before galloping on the main track at Belmont. With New York Racing Association Inc. starter Roy Williamson supervising, California Chrome was loaded into a stall in the starting gate on the backstretch, where he stood quietly for several moments with his hind end pressing against the back of the gate.
CALIFORNIA CHROME GATE SCHOOLS AND GALLOPS

“He was perfect in the gate,” said Alan Sherman, assistant trainer to his father, Art Sherman, who conditions California Chrome. “I just wanted [the gate crew] to make sure he's square; he has a tendency to spread his front feet when he's in the gate. My main concern is that he stays square. I may take him another time next week.”
After being led out, California Chrome completed his daily gallop under exercise rider Willie Delgado, going a little less than 1 ½ miles — a slightly shorter gallop than previous mornings this week.
On Saturday, California Chrome will tune up for the Belmont Stakes with an official workout. The chestnut colt is set to breeze four furlongs (a half-mile) at 6:30 a.m. with regular rider Victor Espinoza aboard, according to Alan Sherman.
“He's ready to work; he's climbing out of his skin right now,” Sherman said. “Once Victor [Espinoza] gets on him he'll know it's time to work.”
POTENTIAL BELMONT STARTERS

Horse

Owner

Trainer

California Chrome

Steven Coburn & Perry Martin

Art Sherman

Commanding Curve

West Point Thoroughbreds

Dallas Stewart

Commissioner

WinStar Farm

Todd Pletcher

Kid Cruz

Vina Del Mar TBs & Black Swan Stb.

Linda Rice

Matterhorn

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Todd Pletcher

Matuszak

C R K Stable

Bill Mott

Medal Count

Spendthrift Farm

Dale Romans

Ride On Curlin

Daniel J. Dougherty

Billy Gowan

Samraat

My Meadowview Farm

Richard Violette Jr.

Social Inclusion

Rontos Racing Stable

Manny Azpurua

Tonalist

Robert S. Evans

Christophe Clement

Wicked Strong

Centennial Farm

Jimmy Jerkens