California Chrome schools in paddock, continues routine
gallop ahead of Belmont
Dual classic star California Chrome, who is aiming for a sweep
of the Triple Crown in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 7, schooled in the paddock for the first time on Thursday
before proceeding to gallop two miles over the Belmont Park main track.
The three-year-old son of Lucky Pulpit walked around the Belmont paddock
shortly after 6 a.m. (EDT) before standing in a stall for approximately five minutes.
He then proceeded through the tunnel and onto the main track where he jogged
clockwise to the half-mile pole before commencing his usual counter-clockwise
two-mile gallop.
For video of California Chrome schooling in the paddock and galloping, please
click here.
“He pretty much goes at his own pace,” said Alan Sherman,
who assists his father, trainer Art Sherman. “Like, you see him the first time
around, he’s real easy, and then he hits the half-mile pole and starts to pull
on (exercise rider) Willie (Delgado) pretty good. Today he was pulling on him a
little more than usual.”
Alan Sherman said California Chrome likely will school in
the paddock multiple times next week before he gallops. The chestnut colt owned
by Steven Coburn and Martin Perry will not school in the paddock in the
afternoon.
“We don’t do a lot of schooling in the afternoon, hardly at
all,” Sherman remarked. “We always school in the morning. It’s just
something we do. Whether it’s right or wrong, I don’t know. It’s just the way we
do it.
“I just don’t like to interrupt his feeding, his dinner,”
Sherman added. “I’d just as soon in the morning. We’ll do it a couple more times
throughout the week.”
California Chrome is scheduled to school at the starting
gate at 6:30 a.m. on Friday. His Saturday breeze is now scheduled for 6:30 a.m. as
well, according to Sherman.
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