Up the Backstretch: San Antonio Stakes a rare early season treat
Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – If every indication is correct, the connections of California Chrome are all anxious to get the 2015 racing season started for the reigning Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion.
California Chrome is stabled at Los Alamitos Race Course as he has been since Hollywood Park closed in Dec. 2013. The 4-year-old colt has been training consistently at the track and is being pointed toward the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, Feb. 7.
“He looks really good right now,” said trainer Art Sherman. “It will be nice if all three horses can hook up in the San Antonio. I think they will. I’ve got a good feeling about it.”
The three horses Sherman alluded to are his colt along with Bayern and Shared Belief. These are the probable finalists for the Eclipse Award as 2014 champion 3-year-old colt and gelding with at least two of them among the finalists for Horse of the Year. The finalists will be announced Wednesday, Jan 7.
Bayern, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, is based at Santa Anita and Shared Belief, 2013 champion 2-year-old, is stabled at Golden Gate Fields.
Victor Espinoza, California Chrome’s jockey, is also excited for the colt’s upcoming 4-year-old season. He worked the horse Saturday morning at Los Alamitos, going six furlongs in 1:12.60
“He worked unbelievable,” Espinoza said. “He went in one twelve and change which is what I wanted from him. He was pulling a lot. He’s getting tougher; he’s on his toes right now. He’s basically better than before.”
How dangerous will California Chrome be this season if he’s better than he was as a 3-year-old when he won five straight stakes to begin the year and then finished with a commanding victory on turf in the 1 1/8-mile Hollywood Derby at Del Mar?
“He has completely changed as he’s getting older. As a 4-year-old, he’s going to be a different horse. He works differently. Yesterday (Saturday) was the slowest I could go. He’s pulling hard, which he never used to do. He’s tough.
“He’s building back up big time physically. He tries to jump around and bite the pony every chance he gets and I believe in 2015 he’ll run the best races of his life … He’s an amazing horse and he did unbelievable things in 2014 but I’m really looking forward to 2015.”
The San Antonio, at 1 1/8 miles, has been the customary prep event for the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap held a month later. The last two Big Caps were won by Game On Dude who is now retired.
Having the three best known thoroughbreds running against each other so early in the year is a rare treat for thoroughbred racing fans.
“It would be fun to see these three horses come together again in the San Antonio,” noted Alan Sherman, assistant to his father.
Fun is exactly what thoroughbred racing is all about and kicking off the year with high profile horses facing each other elevates the excitement immeasurably.
Categorized in: Horses