California Chrome’s training ‘like a monster’

California Chrome’s training ‘like a monster’

California Chrome keeps dragging Willie Delgado around the vast oval (NYRA/Coglianese/Susie Raisher) With clear blue skies and a bright morning sun beaming down for the first time since his arrival at Belmont Park earlier this week, Triple Crown candidate California Chrome “trained like a monster” Sunday morning as he continued his preparations for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 7. “He just keeps getting stronger,” said Alan Sherman, son of and assistant to trainer Art Sherman, after the chestnut colt galloped two miles around the track. “I can see it in his stride and the way he’s taking hold of (exercise rider) Willie (Delgado), he seems to like this track. He’s actually put on some weight since the Preakness. “This morning, with the way the sun was hitting him, he was shining like a new penny,” he added. “He looks so good right now.” California Chrome, who would become the California-bred to win the Triple Crown should he add the Belmont to his victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, has been away from his home base at Los Alamitos in Orange County, California, since April. “It always takes him a day or two to settle in,” Sherman said of the colt’s sojourns to Churchill Downs and Pimlico. “He’s starting to figure everything out. He stands there and lets everyone take their photos. He’s a big ham. He’s enjoying himself and having fun.”

Sherman said that California Chrome would continue to train at 6 a.m. (EDT)
for the foreseeable future, with his lone scheduled work between the Preakness
and the 1 1/2-mile Belmont slated for May 31.

“He’s nickering when we get to the barn in the morning,” he said. “He doesn’t
like to stand around.”

Art Sherman, 77, returned to California following the Preakness and is
scheduled to arrive in New York early next week.

“He’s probably missing the horse, but I’m sure he’s enjoying the peace and
quiet,” Alan Sherman said of his father. “He’s holding up well. He was getting a
little tired, which is probably why he’s staying at home a little longer.”

In other Belmont news:

Social Inclusion was scheduled to arrive in barn 5 at Belmont Park on Sunday
afternoon, with his connections eyeing either a start in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont
Stakes or the Grade 2, seven-furlong Woody Stephens, also on June 7. Both the
Belmont Stakes and the Woody Stephens are restricted to three-year-olds.

Previously, Social Inclusion was under consideration for the Grade 1, one
mile Metropolitan Handicap for three-year-olds and up, but owner Ronald Sanchez
revealed via text message Sunday that the Met Mile is no longer a possibility.

“(Trainer Manuel Azpurua) wants breeze the horse before we make a decision,”
said Sanchez, who added that the breeze likely will be on Saturday.

Social Inclusion easily won his first two starts at Gulfstream Park before
finishing second in the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial in April at Aqueduct
Racetrack. Making only his fourth start in the Preakness on May 17 at Pimlico,
he raced in midpack early and tired in the stretch but battled to the wire to
finish third, eight lengths behind the winner California Chrome and a head in
front of fourth-place finisher General a Rod.

Similarly, the Belmont decision is still pending for Robert B. Lewis winner
Candy Boy, an eventful 13th in the Kentucky Derby last out.

“We haven’t made a decision yet,” trainer John Sadler said Sunday.

Candy Boy worked five furlongs Saturday under regular rider Gary Stevens in
1:00 1/5 at his home base of Santa Anita.

“He worked very well, so we’re happy with that,” Sadler said. “The Belmont is
two weeks away, so we have time.”

As to California Chrome, Sadler said, “I’m a big fan, especially coming out
of California. It’s a great story.”

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella also commented on California Chrome’s
bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

“It’ll be a great story if he wins it,” Mandella said. “If he doesn’t win it,
it’s been a great story anyway.”

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