California Chrome being prepped with eye toward Breeders' Cup

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California Chrome, who capped a six-race winning streak by becoming the first California-bred to sweep the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, is in the early stages of preparation for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

After failing to become the 12th Triple Crown winner when he finished in a dead-heat for fourth in the Belmont Stakes, California Chrome wound down for two weeks at trainer Art Sherman's barn at Los Alamitos (Orange County) and then spent four weeks recreating at Harris Ranch, where he was bred.

He returned to Los Alamitos on July 17 and has had two easy workouts this month.

"He's put on a little weight and looks healthy and strong," said Sherman, the 77-year-old who lived in San Mateo from 1968 to 2008 while competing on the Northern California racing circuit as a jockey and trainer. "He didn't go that far back on me and I like the way he's been working."

Of course, California Chrome is going to need a race before the Classic.

"I've got a couple of options," Sherman said. "One is the Pennsylvania Derby (on Sept. 20 at Parx Racing) and the other is the Awesome Again Stakes" on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita.

Not only does the Pennsylvania Derby offer a much higher purse ($1 million compared with $300,000), but it also would allow California Chrome to compete again against fellow 3-year-olds. Not that Sherman is afraid of the older horses.

"I see where they're beating up on each other, which is kind of nice for me," he said.

Sherman should learn something on the subject in the $1 million Pacific Classic next Sunday at Del Mar as another 3-year-old star, undefeated Shared Belief, tackles his elders, including $6.4 million earner Game on Dude.

"I'm kind of curious about hooking up with Shared Belief," Sherman said. "He's the real McCoy. It's going to be standing room only when those two hit together one day."

Sherman saw a lot of standing room as California Chrome stormed to stardom this spring.

"That horse was on a really big roll to win six races in a row, all big races," he said. "You're under a lot of pressure in Triple Crown races; everybody's at your door and in your face. There is a little lull right now, and I kind of like it like that. But everywhere I go, people still want to take pictures with me. The notoriety is unbelievable."

Magician loses: Hardest Core, an 11-to-1 shot making his first appearance in a graded stakes, out-finished Breeders' Cup Turf champion Magician to win the Grade 1, $1 million Arlington Million by 1 length Saturday at Arlington Park.