Breeders’ Cup Photo ©
California Chrome usually works out early in the morning, but on Saturday at Santa Anita, he was on the track just before noon Pacific Time to breeze six furlongs in front of the on-track crowd with many more racing fans watching on the Santa Anita simulcast. The 2014 Horse of the Year didn’t disappoint, going the distance in a blazing 1:10.04 in what will be his final timed workout before he runs in Santa Anita’s San Pasqual Stakes (gr. II) on January 9th.
With regular rider Victor Espinoza in the saddle, California Chrome started off at the six-furlong pole and posted fractions of :23.65, :46.66, and :58.30 under virtually no urging from Espinoza before crossing the wire and galloping out seven furlongs in 1:22.80. Handicapper Jeff Siegel later said on Twitter that he hand-timed California Chrome going a mile in 1:37 4/5.
Unraced since a second-place finish in the 2015 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) last March, California Chrome is expected to use the San Pasqual as a springboard to another Dubai journey, with an as-of-yet undetermined prep in Dubai to be followed by a run in the Dubai World Cup. A victory there would propel California Chrome’s earnings well past $12 million and make him the richest U.S.-based racehorse of all time.
1.10 flat for 6F California Chrome and jockey Victor Espinoza pic.twitter.com/ltbLSaQr3g
— camilla yakteen (@camillayakteen) January 2, 2016
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