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  #1  
Old 11-23-2014, 06:49 PM
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CALIFORNIA CHROME BREEZES HALF-MILE IN 52 FLAT ON TURF

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome made his first appearance of the year at Del Mar on Sunday morning, breezing a half-mile on the turf in 52 seconds under regular jockey Victor Espinoza with trainer Art Sherman looking on from the second level of the grandstand.

California Chrome is nominated to both the $300,000 Hollywood Derby on grass and the $200,000 Native Diver on Polytrack on Saturday, November 29 at Del Mar. Sunday’s workout, the first for California Chrome on turf, was to determine his affinity for the surface and help in the stakes decision.

“I was satisfied with the work,” Sherman said at a news conference an hour later. “Victor said (California Chrome) didn’t know if he was going to work or gallop because he’d never been on the grass before. But Victor said he felt smooth underneath him and that was my main concern.”

If California Chrome runs next Saturday, he will be the seventh Kentucky Derby winner to race at Del Mar after winning the Run For The Roses in the 75-year history of the track.

Sherman said a final decision regarding which race would likely come on Wednesday when entries are taken, but stuck to previously expressed priorities.

“I’d love to run him on the grass,” Sherman said.

With an estimated crowd of 500 watching, California Chrome was given the opportunity for a solo run over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. He entered the course from a gate just past the finish line, his chestnut colt glistening in the early morning sun.

The colt jogged easily around the clubhouse turn to the backstretch, then broke off from the accompanying pony and started the half-mile work. The turf course “dogs” (marker cones) were well out from the inner rail to protect the surface and the work was conducted more than halfway toward the outer rail.

Track clockers had splits of :13.80 and :26.60 for the first two furlongs and :52.00 for the half-mile, meaning a final quarter in :25.40 seconds. Espinoza had California Chrome well in hand the entire way and clockers labeled it “breezing,” an assessment not routinely accorded on the Southern California circuit
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  #2  
Old 11-23-2014, 09:47 PM
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Pants II Pants II is offline
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Native Diver it is.

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Old 11-24-2014, 09:37 AM
Frost King Frost King is offline
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We can only hope he goes on the grass, and provides a great bet against situation.
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Old 11-24-2014, 10:50 AM
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Why wouldn't he take to turf?
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Old 11-24-2014, 11:06 AM
blackthroatedwind blackthroatedwind is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Indian Charlie View Post
Why wouldn't he take to turf?
The right question is "why would he?"
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Old 11-24-2014, 11:11 AM
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ateamstupid ateamstupid is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind View Post
The right question is "why would he?"
If I recall correctly, IC thought the Belmont was a foregone conclusion, so I'm not surprised he assumes Chrome will handle grass.
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Old 11-24-2014, 11:27 AM
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KirisClown KirisClown is offline
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I'm expecting a Tabasco Catlike performance..
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Old 11-24-2014, 12:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ateamstupid View Post
If I recall correctly, IC thought the Belmont was a foregone conclusion, so I'm not surprised he assumes Chrome will handle grass.
I know you aren't that stupid.
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Old 11-24-2014, 12:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind View Post
The right question is "why would he?"
Pulpit is some reason to think he might take to it.

I didn't say he's a lock in the race, only that I think it's silly to dismiss him.

Another reason is that he seems to handle synthetics just fine.
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  #10  
Old 11-24-2014, 01:54 PM
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letswastemoney letswastemoney is offline
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1) Cozzene is a turf influence

2) Chrome hates dirt kickback, so perhaps the grass will help that

3) As IC wrote, he already handles polytrack and dirt, a good sign for handling multiple surfaces

4) He looked decent enough in the slow workout around the cones. I don't think time matters in turf workouts. It just looked smooth.
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