Sherman Seeks California Chrome Stakes Upset

Trainer Art Sherman admits running in a race named after a horse he still has in training is a bit odd, but he couldn't help but have an entry in the inaugural $150,000 California Chrome Stakes April 30 at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Stabled at Los Alamitos, where its most famous resident—California Chrome  —is scheduled to return May 1 after some rest and relaxation at Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Ky., Sherman will enter last-out winner Mishegas for the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds, undoubtedly the Include   colt's toughest task yet.

"It's pretty interesting. I've never done that before, that's for sure," Sherman said with a laugh, about running in a race named after a horse he is also still training.

Mishegas figures to be a longshot in the field of nine, but does have some intriguing past performances that might fit. Last time out, he defeated fellow California Chrome entrants Rare Candy (second) and Curlin Rules (third) by 1 1/4 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance race at Santa Anita Park March 27. He also has a standout victory at Los Alamitos four starts back Dec. 11, when he won another optional claimer by 13 1/4 lengths.

"The horse will run all day long. He's one of those horses who never gets tired—just keeps going," Sherman said of the colt owned by Zvika Akin, Robert Bach, GP Stables, and William Zellerbach. "It's a good field, but he trains over this track and really seems to like it. He's coming off a big race at Santa Anita and he deserves a shot."

What Mishegas doesn't show in his past performances is the class others provide heading into the California Chrome.

The standout appears to be Gary and Mary West's undefeated Malibu Sunset. After a 10 1/2-length score in his debut at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for trainer Wayne Catalano, the Wests sent the Bernardini   colt to the left coast and trainer Bob Baffert. In his first start for the Hall of Fame trainer, Malibu Sunset won a mile allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita Feb. 28, under a confident ride by jockey Flavien Prat.

BALAN: Malibu Sunset Aces West Coast Debut

Baffert also has graded stakes-placed Let's Meet in Rio entered, following a second-place finish in the Sham (gr. III) in January and a fifth-place finish in the Robert B. Lewis (gr. III) in February. The Juddmonte Farms homebred Flatter   colt broke his maiden traveling a mile at Los Alamitos in December.

Other graded stakes-placed entrants in the field are Uncle Lino and One More Round.

Uncle Lino, who was on the edge of Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) eligibility after good runs in the West Coast Triple Crown preps—second in the Lewis, fourth in the San Felipe (gr. II), and third in the Santa  Anita Derby (gr. I)—has the most graded experience.

One More Round, while still a maiden, finished second to Collected for trainer A.C. Avila in the Lexington (gr. III) at Keeneland April 16, after three unsuccessful tries at the maiden special weight level in Southern California.

Completing the field is Dalmore, last seen in an eighth-place finish at Aqueduct Racetrack for trainer Keith Desormeax in the Wood Memorial (gr. I), and Touched by Autism, who enters the California Chrome off back-to-back allowance victories at Golden Gate Fields.