Sherman Not Bothered by Chrome's Antics
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California Chrome's trainer Art Sherman (right) and his son and assistant Alan Sherman watch the colt train at Parx Friday ahead of Saturday's Pennsylvania Derby. (Photos by Equiphoto)
By Tom Pedulla, America’s Best Racing
BENSALEM, Pa. – When trainer Art Sherman schooled California Chrome at the Parx Racing starting gate early Friday morning, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion was reluctant to enter.
The colt has not competed since June 7, when his Triple Crown bid was denied in the Belmont Stakes with a dead-heat finish for fourth. The layoff, coupled with unfamiliar surroundings, may have led Chrome to be hesitant. For a moment, at least, he preferred to take everything in and be a spectator.
As well-traveled as he is, having taken his big game to six tracks, the surface at Parx is different from what he encountered before. And a stiff wind, providing more than a hint that autumn’s arrival is near, reminded the curious 3-year-old that he is many miles from his West Coast home.
Sherman allowed California Chrome to take his time, to do everything his way. Sure enough, the horse entered the starting gate without any more ado. The trainer is confident there will be no issues on Saturday, when Chrome becomes the first Derby champion to compete here in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby.
CALIFORNIA CHROME TRAINS AT PARX
“He’s such a character. He does what he wants to do,” Sherman said. “I guess you could say he’s spoiled, but he has a reason to be spoiled. He’s got a lot of people pampering him.”
Sherman is not concerned that Chrome will misbehave once jockey Victor Espinoza is aboard and the field of eight loads for the 35th running of the Pennsylvania Derby. “It’s nothing you have to worry about. He was not being crazy,” he said. “He’s just being Chrome.”
But Sherman acknowledges that other concerns are legitimate. As steadily as the youngster drilled at his sun-splashed home base of Los Alamitos, including an all-business six-furlong drill between races at that track that went in 1:10 1/5 seconds and thrilled onlookers on Sept. 6, the trainer admitted he cannot be sure of the horse’s conditioning.
Sherman said of having Chrome back to top form, “I’m working back to it.” He said he finds himself wondering whether the horse is fit enough to withstand the stiff challenges sure to come his way during the mile-and-an-eighth contest.
BAYERN WINS THE GRADE 1 HASKELL IN JULY
The field includes five other graded stakes winners. Bayern is the only rival to own a Grade 1 victory, that coming when he was a runaway victor in the Haskell Invitational on July 27. Candy Boy, Noble Moon and Tapiture all have succeeded at the Grade 2 level, with Tapiture surging late to edge Candy Boy by a nose in the West Virginia Derby on Aug. 2 in their most recent start.
No competitor is coming off a layoff, much less the extensive one Chrome was given as the California-bred was allowed to unwind for five weeks at Harris Farm, the place of his birth. Sherman said of that factor, “I think they’ve got a pretty good edge on me.”
Bayern, who will be ridden by Martin Garcia, represents a huge concern because he showed in the Haskell how dangerous he can be if allowed an unpressured lead. “Any time you’ve got a speed horse and you let him dictate a race, he can be tough,” Sherman said. “But my horse can be a speed horse. I’ve got to leave it to Victor.”
Sherman said he chose the Pennsylvania Derby because it was one of the last major races restricted to 3-year-olds and it allowed him six weeks to prepare for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. “That is perfect for what I need,” he said, referring to the Pennsylvania Derby as a “big steppingstone.”
Meanwhile, Sherman and owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin are doing everything possible to make California Chrome feel at home. On Friday, that included a customary serving of pre-race cookies.
$1-million Pennsylvania DerbySaturday, Parx Racing, Race 12, Post Time 5:40 p.m. ET1 1/8 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M-L Odds
1
California Chrome
Victor Espinoza
124
Art Sherman
1-1
2
Candy Boy
Joel Rosario
122
John Sadler
12-1
3
Protonico
Javier Castellano
122
Todd Pletcher
6-1
4
Bayern
Martin Garcia
124
Bob Baffert
7-2
5
Noble Moon
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
Leah Gyarmati
15-1
6
Classic Giacnroll
Kendrick Carmouche
117
Lisa Guerrero
15-1
7
Tapiture
Rosie Napravnik
122
Steve Asmussen
5-1
8
C J's Awesome
Edgar Prado
117
Kenny McPeek
12-1
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Saturday, Sept. 20, 4:30-6 p.m. ET