California Chrome Has Easy Half-Mile Drill
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Getting back into a regular work pattern, California Chrome put in a maintenance drill at Los Alamitos Racecourse the morning of Aug. 15, covering four furlongs handily in :50 2/5.
The dual classic winner had his first work since the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) a week earlier at Los Al when he clocked three furlongs in :37 3/5.
"I thought the work was good. A good maintenance work," trainer Art Sherman said after observing Chrome's latest effort. "Coming back he galloped out really strong. That's just his style of working. As he gets to working a little bit more, he'll get faster and faster. We're right on schedule. I'm happy with the way he's going."
Exercise rider Anna Wells was back aboard the handsome chestnut colt Friday.
California Chrome returned to his Los Alamitos stable July 17 after given a breather following the grueling Triple Crown campaign. That ended with a fourth-place finish in the June 7 Belmont as he unsuccessfully attempted to sweep the Triple Crown series for 3-year-olds. He jogged and galloped for a couple of weeks for Sherman before returning to the worktab a week ago.
He is being aimed for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park and is scheduled to have one prep race before then. His connections have listed three possible options for the California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit : the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. I) at Parx Racing and the $200,000 Los Alamitos Mile, both for 3-year-olds Sept. 20, and the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) a week later at Santa Anita. No decision has been announced.
Co-owners and breeders Perry and Denise Martin and Steve and Carolyn Coburn received a warm reception Aug. 14 at the State Capitol in Sacramento when the state legislature unanimously passed a resolution honoring California Chrome for his victories in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness Stakes (both gr. I) this spring.
Also victorious in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) and Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) this season, California Chrome has won eight of 13 lifetime starts with earnings of $3,532,650.
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