California Chrome, Dortmund work for Pacific Classic

Edited Press Release

2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome worked four furlongs in :47.80 at Los Alamitos and Dortmund five furlongs in :59.20 at Del Mar Sunday morning, leaving only one major work still ahead for two of the marquee runners targeting the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) on August 20.

California Chrome, with exercise rider Dihigi Gladney up, went out at 5:30 a.m. (PT), with sunrise still a flicker, and produced splits of :12.80, :24.80 and :36.80 en route to his half-mile time. The Lucky Pulpit chestnut galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.80 over the fast Los Alamitos surface.

“Terrific,” trainer Art Sherman said of the exercise. “He did it breezing, well in hand. He looks great and we’re right on schedule for the Pacific Classic.”

Dortmund, with jockey Flavien Prat up, took the Del Mar track at around 8 a.m. and worked in company with stablemate Above Board. Breaking off about four lengths behind the workmate, Dortmund closed ground around the turn and finished slightly ahead.

Del Mar’s clockers had splits of :12.40, :24.40,  :35.60 and :47 leading up to the :59.20 for five furlongs on Del Mar’s fast main track. Trainer Bob Baffert had the four-year-old son of Big Brown galloping out seven furlongs in 1:23.40.

California Chrome and Dortmund finished 1-2 at the end of a stirring stretch battle in the San Diego Handicap (G2) on July 23.

California Chrome returned in that 1 1/16-mile affair off a 3 3/4-length victory in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 26. Dortmund made his seasonal bow in the San Diego following a 4 1/2-length score in the Native Diver Stakes (G3) last November 28.

“He went nice and I was happy with his work,” Baffert said. “The (San Diego Handicap) moved him forward. We wanted a strong work today and we got it.”

Comments from the clockers’ booth were: “Looked good,” “Finished with a rush” and “Galloped out strong.”

California Chrome and Dortmund will each have one more work, a week from this one, before the Classic. California Chrome at Los Alamitos, Dortmund at Del Mar.

California Chrome photo courtesy of Benoit Photos