California Chrome schools, gallops for Penn Derby; Untapable, Tapiture arrive

California Chrome took a spin around Parx ahead of the Penn Derby (Kim Pratt)

After having a slow mile jog over the
Parx surface
Wednesday morning, Kentucky Derby and
Preakness winner California Chrome had a more vigorous morning on Thursday,
galloping between 1 1/2 miles and 1 3/4 miles, again with
exercise rider Willie Delgado aboard, as he prepares for Saturday’s running of
the Grade 2, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby.

The gleaming chestnut initially visited the paddock to school
and was then taken to the track to get his work in. In the eyes of assistant
trainer Alan Sherman, all went well.

“He was striding out nicely today,” Sherman said. “I thought he handled the
track real well. He schooled great, looked around, taking everything in. I
thought yesterday when he jogged, he looked around a bit, but today, I thought
he was more focused. He’ll gallop again tomorrow and I think he’ll be even more
focused tomorrow.”

In a race of this caliber, even the smallest miscues could
prove costly and California Chrome has had issues in the past at the start. He’s
also breaking from the inside post.

California Chrome receives some loving from exercise rider Willie Delgado (Kim Pratt)

An expected date with unbeaten champion Shared Belief looms in the $5 million
Breeders Cup Classic in six weeks for California Chrome, who hasn’t raced in
more three months. Sherman was asked about the significance of the race Saturday
for the son of Lucky Pulpit.

“Obviously the ultimate goal is the Breeders Cup Classic,” he replied. “We
want to get a good race out of him on Saturday and we certainly hope he wins —
nobody likes to lose — but yes, the ultimate goal is the Classic.”

Haskell romper Bayern will most certainly pose a speedy threat to California Chrome’s chances
on Saturday. The Bob Baffert-trained son of Offlee Wild spent some time in the
paddock after getting in a morning gallop of 1 3/8 miles on Thursday.

Composed
and professional in the paddock, assistant trainer Jim Barnes has liked what
he’s seen from Bayern this week.

“He’s a super good traveler,” Barnes said of Bayern who, like California Chrome, flew in
from the West Coast on Tuesday. “I couldn’t be happier. He moves over this track
real well.”

Untapable stepped off the van at Parx for Saturday’s Cotillion (Kim Pratt)

A low key Barnes simply remarked, “She looks great.”

Trainer Steven Asmussen shipped a pair of Tapit-sired runners —
Kentucky
Oaks queen Untapable (Cotillion) and multiple Grade 2 victor Tapiture
(Pennsylvania Derby) — from Saratoga on Thursday and, according to assistant
trainer Scott Blasi, the trip was uneventful for the Winchell homebreds.

“They shipped real well,” he said. “It was an easy trip from Saratoga. Both just
walked the (Parx) shedrow. Tomorrow they will have a little gallop in the
morning and school in the paddock around 10 a.m. (EDT).”

Grade 2 hero Candy Boy, a nose second to Tapiture in the West Virginia Derby
last out for trainer John Sadler, was also on
the track Thursday preparing for the Pennsylvania Derby. He jogged once around the mile
oval with exercise rider Jose Lopez in the irons.