‘Chrome, Shared Belief connections excited about San
Antonio match up
The $500,000 San Antonio S. (G2) has captured the fancy of the whole of
racing, California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) trainer Art Sherman included.
“I think you’ll see a lot of people at Santa Anita
Saturday,” the 77-year-old horseman said. “Being Horse of the Year now and being as
popular as he is here in California, I think you’ll see one of the biggest
crowds you’ve seen at Santa Anita in a long time.
“My good friend’s horse, Shared Belief (Candy Ride), is in there and
he’s a good horse. I’m very excited to hook up again. It’s an old-timer’s thing
with me and him (Jerry Hollendorfer).”
Hollendorfer indicated he, too, was looking forward to running Sherman.
“We’re always happy
to run in a big race,” he said. “Hopefully, it will be a great race for the fans
and a great race for both horses.”
As the colt’s regular rider, Victor Espinoza is a charter
member of the California Chrome Fan Club.
“I’m very excited,” the reinsman remarked. “For
once, I have a good post. I’m really looking forward to it. I think it will be
an exciting race for California Chrome and a good day for racing. The race isn’t
that easy, but California Chrome is doing good, and we’ll see what happens.
“I know there are a couple tough horses in there. Shared Belief is an amazing
horse, but I have a lot of confidence in California Chrome,” Espinoza added.
Suggested there would be less pressure on Chrome than there
was last year during his Triple Crown run and pursuit of Horse of the Year
honors, which he ultimately won, Espinoza had a refreshing take.
“Now,” he said, “I have to ride him like Horse of the Year.”
Regarding strategy, California Chrome should be forwardly
placed early on from his No. 8 post position
“He’s got enough tactical speed but he’ll get out and get
over,” said Alan Sherman, Art’s son and assistant.
Alfa Bird (Birdstone), 30-1 on Jon White’s morning line, is just
outside California Chrome in post 9 and has been on the lead virtually from
start-to-finish in four of his five starts, although his class is unproven since
the San Antonio is his first stakes start.
“There are a couple of horses in there that probably
shouldn’t be,” Alan Sherman said. “But our horse is doing good and we’re looking
forward to starting the New Year.”
“It’s a rider’s race,” Hollendorfer said Friday morning, as
the San Antonio countdown began in earnest. “That’s why you use good riders like
Mike Smith and Russell Baze, so they can make good decisions.
“In a race like the San Antonio, everyone knows they are all good horses. You
devise a basic plan before the race, but that’s about all you can do.”
Shared Belief galloped on Santa Anita’s main track at 7
a.m. (PST) Friday morning in a picturesque setting and under ideal conditions. Hollendorfer said the gelding’s last work,
when he went four furlongs in :50 4/5 at Golden Gate
Fields on Tuesday, “was just what we wanted. A nice, easy blowout.”
The San Antonio, with an approximate post time of 4 p.m. (PST),
will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1.
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