Chrome breezes mile for San Antonio; Bayern unlikely to make showdown

California Chrome was ‘under a nice hold’ at the end (Courtesy of Los Alamitos via Twitter)

Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) worked a mile in 1:41 2/5,
breezing, at his Los Alamitos headquarters Sunday morning as he moves ever
closer to his four-year-old debut in the $500,000 San Antonio S. (G2) on
February 7.

Regular rider Victor Espinoza was aboard the Kentucky Derby (G1) and
Preakness (G1) winner, who was wearing blinkers as he took to the cleared
racetrack. Los Alamitos head clocker Russ Hudak caught “Chrome” in fractions of
:25 3/5, :51, 1:03 2/5, 1:15 3/5 and 1:29 for seven furlongs.

“He looked good,” Hudak said. “He came to the wire under a nice hold.”

Added Alan Sherman, son of and assistant to his father, trainer Art Sherman:
“It was a very good work. I’m really, really happy with him.”

Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Bayern (Offlee Wild), meanwhile, has been
virtually ruled out of the San Antonio.

“I had to get a work into him last week (but didn’t),” Hall of Fame trainer
Bob Baffert said. “Right now it’s pretty doubtful he’s going to make the race. I
don’t want to rush him into it.

“He looks good now, but you can’t run against those horses unless you’re at
least 90 percent.”