California Chrome Training Like a Rock Star

CALIFORNIA CHROME - Kentucky Derby (G1) winner California Chrome continued his preparation for a scheduled start in Saturday's 139 th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course by galloping 1 ¾ miles over a good racetrack early Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.

"He loves it out there," exercise rider Willie Delgado said. "Whatever he does, I just let him do. He is a rock star and I am just a groupie. He is the Kentucky Derby winner; he can do whatever he wants."

What California Chrome wanted to do in the first part of the activity was pick up the pace when a trio of horses galloped past.

"That's just him," said Delgado, who rode and trained in Maryland before venturing to the West Coast last fall. "He is so competitive that he wants to go."

Delgado, who began getting on California Chrome last fall, is eager to see what California Chrome will do in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

"I think he'll love Pimlico," Delgado said. "It is a lot like Los Alamitos with sharp turns and a long stretch."

As far as any letdown from the Derby victory is concerned, Delgado doesn't see it.

"I am amazed at how quick he bounced back from the race," Delgado said. "I have never been around one that bounced back that quickly. He goes out and does a mile and three-quarters like it's nothing."

Alan Sherman, assistant to his father Art Sherman, said California Chrome would go to the track at 6 Monday morning to jog or gallop before making the journey to Baltimore.

California Chrome is one of five Preakness candidates scheduled to arrive at Pimlico Monday. The Derby winner is set to share a plane in Lexington, Ky. with Pablo Del Monte, Ride On Curlin and General a Rod, while Kid Cruz is scheduled to arrive from Belmont Park.

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