![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
![]() 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
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Native Diver it is.
![]() |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
![]() We can only hope he goes on the grass, and provides a great bet against situation.
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
![]() Why wouldn't he take to turf?
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
![]() The right question is "why would he?"
__________________
Just more nebulous nonsense from BBB |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
![]() If I recall correctly, IC thought the Belmont was a foregone conclusion, so I'm not surprised he assumes Chrome will handle grass.
|
#7
|
||||
|
||||
![]() I'm expecting a Tabasco Catlike performance..
|
#8
|
||||
|
||||
![]() I know you aren't that stupid.
|
#9
|
||||
|
||||
![]() 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. |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
![]() 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. |