California Chrome breezes for the San Diego Handicap

California Chrome is ready to roll in the San Diego Handicap. As a full grown five-year-old, the stunning California Chrome is a commanding presence on the track

In a final breeze before the San Diego Handicap, July 23, California Chrome covered five furlongs in 0:59.20 seconds on Saturday morning going over the Del Mar main track.

California Chrome, with exercise rider Dihigi Gladney onboard, was on the track with two contenders penciled in for the San Diego Handicap – Dortmund and Hard Aces. The trio was the only horses on the track during their workouts, allowing them unimpeded progress and lessening the likelihood of collision with other horses and riders.

The 1 1/16 mile San Diego Handicap is Chrome’s first race since his Dubai World Cup victory on March 26. After Dubai, Chrome had a break on Taylor Made Farm, Kentucky, where he was given time off from training and turned out to graze and relax. Since returning to trainer Art Sherman’s home base at Los Alamitos Race Course in California, Chrome’s exercise routine has increased to the point where he is now racing fit.

The Del Mar Thoroughbred   Club (where Chrome is stabled for races during the summer Del Mar meet that lasts through Labor Day) Stable Notes described Chrome’s work:

"The handsome chestnut had regular exercise rider Dihigi Gladney in the tack as they took flight from the five-furlong pole on an overcast morning alongside the Pacific and went through splits of :12, :23 4/5, :35 3/5 and :46 4/5 en route to the final clocking. He galloped out another furlong in 1:13.Two Del Mar’s clockers timed the 5-year-old California-bred winner of more than $12.5 million in purses in the same fractions and they agreed that the horse had earned a coveted “B” for “breezing,” a term reserved for only the easiest of works.  Gladney never pushed on his charge and stood up in the saddle as they went past the finish line. The clocking crew at Del Mar noted that to that point in the morning (7:45), no other horses had worked quicker that 1:01 for the five-furlong distance.Trainer Art Sherman, who watched the work from the Del Mar grandstand in close proximity to the finish line, noted he was “very pleased” with his 2014 Horse of the Year’s drill.“He’s got his game face on,” said Sherman. “He’s a different horse when he’s getting ready to run. Dihigi had plenty of horse when he came by me. I’m very pleased with what I saw.”"

Thirteen horses are nominated for the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on Sunday, July 23; the position draw for the field is on Thursday, July 21. Here are the San Diego Handicap nominated horses, with their color, sex, age, owner and trainer*:

ARROGATE, gr/ro.c.3, Juddmonte Farms, Bob Baffert

CALIFORNIA CHROME, ch.h.5, California Chrome, LLC, Art Sherman

CRITTENDEN, ch.g.4, Godolphin Racing, LLC, E. G. Harty

DALMORE, b.c.3, Big Chief Racing, LLC, Rocker O Ranch, LLC or Desormeaux, J. Keith Desormeaux

DORTMUND, ch.c.4, Kaleem Shah, Inc., Bob Baffert

FOLLOW ME CREV, b.g.4, Holly & David Wilson, Vladimir Cerin

HARD ACES, b.h.6, Hronis Racing, LLC, John Sadler

HOPPERTUNITY, b.h.5, Pegram, Watson or Weitman, Bob Baffert

IMPERATIVE, b.g.6, J K Racing, LLC, Richard Baltas

NYQUIST, b.c.3, Reddam Racing, LLC, Doug O’Neill

SOI PHET, dk b.g.8, Benowitz Family Trust, Powell or Viskovich, Leonard Powell

VYJACK, b.g.6, Pick Six Racing, Philip D’ Amato

WIN THE SPACE, gr/ro.c.4, Kretz Racing, LLC, George Papaprodromou

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