O’Neill to Sherman: Enjoy the Derby ride

Art Sherman is no stranger to the Kentucky Derby, having accompanied Swaps for his 1955 victory (Benoit Photos)

It’s been nearly 60 years since Art Sherman had a
horseman’s interest in the Kentucky Derby. He was 18 in 1955 when he accompanied
the great Swaps and his trainer Mesh Tenney to Churchill Downs to prepare the
colt for his victory in the Run for the Roses 59 years ago.

If the fates allow, Sherman, now 77, will make it back to
Louisville, Kentucky, for the 140th classic, this year with California Chrome, like Swaps a
California-bred chestnut.

Sherman is advised to enjoy the ride, from no less an
authority than Doug O’Neill, who fulfilled every trainer’s dream two years ago
by winning the Derby with 15-1 longshot I’ll Have Another. After winning the
Preakness, the upstart three-year-old came within hailing distance of going for the
Triple Crown but was sidelined with an 11th-hour injury a day before the Belmont
Stakes.

But first things first, and for streaking California
Chrome, that would be Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby, a race
O’Neill won the last two years, with Goldencents in 2013 and I’ll Have Another
in 2012.

O’Neill’s bubble burst when he returned to the Kentucky
Derby last year with Goldencents, who faded to 17th after prompting the pace in
the 1 1/4-mile race. Lesson learned: the Derby is not a race to take for
granted. Enjoy the ride.

O’Neill offered these words for Sherman: “Bring a good
horse, which he has in California Chrome. The couple times we’ve been blessed to
experience the Derby, it was about having a horse you have a lot of confidence
in, and I know Art’s got a lot of confidence in California Chrome.”

Santa Anita oddsmaker Jon White has already tabbed California Chrome as the SA Derby morning-line favorite (Benoit Photos)

While the field for next Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby is
not yet set, Santa Anita’s oddsmaker, Jon White, has already determined which
three-year-old
he will install as the morning-line favorite for the Grade 1 event.

“I will be making California Chrome the morning-line
favorite,” said White, who also provides pre-race television commentary for the
track’s simulcast network. “Right now, I don’t know what price I will be making
him since we don’t yet know exactly who is going to be entered. The size of the
field and whether or not Bayern is entered will impact the morning-line prices
for California Chrome, Candy Boy and everybody else.

“One of the many things I will be taking into consideration
when deciding the morning-line prices for California Chrome and Candy Boy is
there was not a great deal of difference in their final odds in the Kentucky
Derby Future Wager Pool that closed yesterday before the Florida Derby and
Louisiana Derby were run.

“California Chrome and Cairo Prince each closed at 9-1,
with a little more money bet on California Chrome. A total of $18,433 was bet on
California Chrome, while $17,793 was wagered on Cairo Prince. That made
California Chrome the actual betting favorite among the 23 individual horses.

“But, like I said, there wasn’t a big difference between California Chrome and
Candy Boy. Candy Boy closed at 13-1. Candy Boy was a lower price than Bayern and
Hoppertunity, who both closed at 15-1.