Chrome Diaries: Polishing the Chrome

My Thanksgiving morning started early, just as every morning has for me this week.  While it’s an adjustment for me, and now my fiancé Scott, who arrived late Wednesday, it just another day for Team Sherman. While we all discussed what everyone was doing for dinner, focus remained on the work to be done this morning to ensure California Chrome was ready for his race on Saturday.

Being Thanksgiving, Del Mar was closing to training at 7 a.m. to get ready for a one mile fun run on the Polytrack surface on the main ttrack and other activities that would lead up to the first time a race card had been hosted on this favorite, family, fall holiday at the track.
Around 6:30 a.m. the team started its walk toward the track, with trainer Art Sherman driving over to the clubhouse to get a good view of his colt taking to the turf for the second, and last, time prior to posting for his first stakes race on the grass.

We walked with groom, Raul Rodriquez, and waited near the chute to see Chrome gallop by, carrying exercise rider Willie Delgado. They were relaxed on their first pass in front of us, but as they arrived at the side of the track farthest from us - the final turn leading into the home stretch - you could see Chrome ready to run as Willie kept him at a moderate pace.  Aa they rounded the turn and passed in front of us again, Willie was beginning to apply the brakes, and Chrome acted like he was having no part of it - he was enjoying the turf. At one point, I thought Willie’s feet were going to come up over Chrome’s ears, he was holding so hard to get the colt to slow his pace.
Chrome’s a smart horse, so he got the message and slowed to a canter, then walked off the turf and backtracked to the place where Raul had parked himself in the chute, and the walked together for the remainder of the trip back to the barn.

Art stood in the center of the yard as the long shadows of early morning gave way to a clear sky and warming temperatures. He watched Willie and Raul take turns walking Chrome after his bath, chatted with Carl O’Callahan, another trainer from Los Alamitos, and told reporters how pleased he was with Chrome's performance on the turf. Then we all bid each other Happy Thanksgiving and walked to the parking lot.

This morning - Friday - was the hardest for me of the week and I had to force myself out of bed after being jarred from a sound sleep by my alarm. With the help of a couple of delicious cups of coffee, and the sweet and attentive man who will be my husband in a couple of weeks, we were soon making the familiar drive to Del Mar’s backside.
When we arrived at the barn, Raul gave us his customary morning greeting and we waited for Art and Willie to return from the track with another Sherman Racing trainee before taking out California Chrome.  

This morning we walked to the paddock where Art stood with Chrome and Willie after walking around the oval a couple of times. Unlike his coltish antics at Santa Anita just prior to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Chrome was alert and curious, but kept all four feet on the ground. Trainer Christophe Clement was also schooling in the paddock and chatted easily with Art about their cross purposes this weekend - Art taking Chrome to the turf and Clement taking his horse to the dirt.

Art followed behind Willie and Chrome as they passed through the tunnel leading to the track, where the horse and exercise rider made a couple laps - first at a gentle lope and then at a controlled gallop. All signs pointed to a confident horse, fit and ready to race tomorrow.

As we left the Clubhouse and crossed the parking lot adjacent to the first barns on the backside, a jovial man with a quick smile stepped from his car and extended his hand, saying “Art, you don’t know me, but I train Lexie Lou.” 

It was Mark Casse, trainer of the Canadian champion filly who will challenge Chrome and four other entrants in the Hollywood Derby tomorrow afternoon. After a warm handshake the two men stood for a few minutes like long-time acquaintances, talking about each of their horses with affection and reverence for the other competitor. Casse has been training for more than 34 years, and he and Art both remarked on the outcomes they have witnessed over decades-long careers. As Art strode out again, heading to the barn, the men wished each other a good race.

That’s ultimately what everyone wants. A good race and a safe outcome. Earlier this morning when Art started walking to the grandstand, he said he’d wait for us in the winner’s circle. I told him to get comfortable. Post time for the Hollywood Derby is at 4:02 p.m. PT tomorrow, and I hope to meet my friend back at the spot around 4:08 p.m.