Northern Cal Trainers On Cup's Center Stage

As unlikely as it seems, a couple of grizzled bantamweights from Northern California are playing the heavyweights as their respective 3-year-olds approach the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 1.

The friendly rivals, trainers Art Sherman and Jerry Hollendorfer, took the podium at the annual Breeders' Cup press conference Oct. 30 to discuss the chances of such an occurrence. Sherman trains dual classic winner California Chrome, while Hollendorfer conditions undefeated Shared Belief. Horse of the Year is the prize.

"Me and Jerry, we've been friends for 35 years," Sherman said. "It's kind of cool we're going to hook up at the head of the stretch.

"It's really coming down to the nitty gritty. Whoever wins this race really should be Horse of the Year," Sherman added. "Jerry's horse; he's the real McCoy. It's so nice after all these years, two Northern California boys hooking up. It's quite a thrill for me."

Added Hollendorfer: "It doesn't matter how old you are or how much money you put in, that jewel can come in. Art's 77 and got one of the best horses in the country. I'm 68 and racing one of the best horses in the country. I think it makes a perfect statement for our game."

It's somewhat surprising that two top 3-year-olds in such close geographical proximity have yet to meet. But while California Chrome was making his storied Triple Crown run, Shared Belief, the 2-year-old male champion of 2013, was sidelined with an injury. After Shared Belief was mended, California Chrome was recovering from his rugged early-season campaign and a minor foot injury of his own.

"It's a lot of fun trying to do these things against the best competition," Hollendorfer said. "We didn't hook up earlier because of circumstances. Art's horse was really doing well and went on to do amazing things. My horse had a hoof injury. We got it fixed up and went on."

Sherman noted that this year's Classic is far from a two-horse race, however.

"We've got the best crop of 3-year-olds I've seen in a long time. Now, everybody comes together," he said.

"I'm 77 years old, not a young kid. I had a great career. I'm a laid back kind of guy, love the horses and the work. If you told me at the beginning of the year that I'd win the Santa Anita Derby, the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness (all gr. I), I would have laughed at you. With what horse? If you keep working hard, you can get lucky. It's been a great run for me."

Sherman said he sent California Chrome out for a 1 3/4-mile gallop the morning of Oct. 30. The splendid California-bred chestnut, a son of Lucky Pulpit   owned and bred by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, is seeking to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) Sept. 20.

"I think California Chrome is actually training better than ever, better than before the Santa Anita Derby," Sherman said. "He's right on his game. I'm sure he needed the race at Parx...you'll see a different Chrome this time.

"To campaign through the Triple Crown is very demanding. It's hard on a horse; three tough races in five weeks. You've got to have a super horse to go through that sort of trial."

Shared Belief, last year's champion 2-year-old male, is undefeated in seven starts as he makes the most important start of his career. Hollendorfer said things have gone smoothly with the gelding since vanning from his Golden Gate Fields base to Santa Anita Oct. 28. Shared Belief had his first morning on the Santa Anita track Oct. 30, galloping 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Seth Martinez and heading home through the paddock after schooling in the gate.

"This horse has done everything we've asked him to do," Hollendorfer said. "This year, we're asking him to do one more thing."

Hollendorfer purchased Shared Belief from breeders Pam and Marty Wygod on behalf of a large partnership that includes radio and television sports talk show personality Jim Rome. He said none of the partners pressured him to hurry Shared Belief back into training while he was injured in order to make any of the Triple Crown races.

The Hall of Fame trainer said he took the approach that since Shared Belief is a gelding, his job was to find "the best way to get him a long and successful racing career.

"I couldn't have asked for a better partnership than this one has been," Hollendorfer said.