California Chrome Looks Good in Latest Work

By Blood-Horse Staff
Under regular rider Victor Espinoza, California Chrome worked five furlongs at his Los Alamitos Racecourse base the morning of Oct. 11 in :59 3/5 in preparation for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I).

It was the second work for the 3-year-old dual classic winner since finishing sixth in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) Sept. 20 at Parx Racing. He worked a half mile Oct. 4 at Los Alamitos in a bullet :47 2/5.

“He looked good. He wasn’t pressured much on the gallop out,” said Los Alamitos head clocker Russ Hudak, noting that California Chrome got the first quarter mile in :24 1/5. “It didn’t look like he was pushed real hard. It was a good, steady work.”

Added Alan Sherman, son of and assistant to trainer Art Sherman: “He worked great. We’re real happy with him. He’ll go five or six furlongs next Saturday.”

The $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.

Owned and bred by Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome is looking to regain the form that saw him reel off successive victories in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and Preakness Stakes (gr I). The son of Lucky Pulpit ran fourth in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in his start prior to the Pennsylvania Derby.

California Chrome has won five of seven starts this year while earning more than $3.3 million. His career line stands at 8-1-0 in 14 starts while banking $3,542,650.