California Chrome gets back to work, eyes Los Al prep for Pegasus

California Chrome got back to work at his Los Alamitos base on Saturday morning, exactly two weeks after his hard-fought loss to Arrogate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

North America’s all-time leading money winner stretched his legs over a half-mile in :48 2/5, with regular exercise rider Dihigi Gladney aboard. Los Al reported splits of :25 1/5 and :36 4/5, so California Chrome picked it up nicely late.

In the video below, assistant trainer Alan Sherman said that his last eighth shaded :11, and he caught him finishing up in :48.

The 2014 Horse of the Year who is likely to regain that crown in the 2016 balloting, California Chrome is plotting a path to the inaugural $12 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park January 28. Now the world’s richest race, the Pegasus is expected to be “Chrome’s” grand finale before retiring to stud at Taylor Made near Nicholasville, Kentucky.

As Sherman noted, the preferred route is for Chrome to prep in a December 17 event at Los Alamitos. The Blood-Horse’s Jeremy Balan reported Friday night that track officials are working to add a 1 1/16-mile stakes to accommodate Cypress, California’s most famous resident.

 

Gary Tasich photo courtesy of Los Alamitos via Twitter