California Chrome sharp work in Dubai

California Chrome worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Friday, preparing for his first of two starts in that country on Feb. 25.

Trainer Art Sherman said at Santa Anita on Saturday that California Chrome galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.40 in his Friday workout. Art Sherman’s son and assistant trainer, Alan, is with California Chrome in Dubai overseeing training. “He said Chrome’s doing amazing,” Art Sherman said of his conversation with Alan. “He said he can’t believe it. He doesn’t leave an oat. He’s put on all the weight he lost from traveling over there.”

The 2014 Horse of the Year, California Chrome arrived in Dubai on Jan. 22 and worked a half-mile in 48 seconds at Meydan last Sunday. Regular exercise rider Dihigi Gladney has ridden California Chrome in his workouts and daily exercise. California Chrome is scheduled to start in a $150,000 handicap at Meydan on Feb. 25, a prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26. Last year, California Chrome finished second to Prince Bishop in the Dubai World Cup in what would be his final start of 2015. In his lone start this year, California Chrome won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita.

In a message posted on his Facebook page, Alan Sherman described California Chrome as being in “beast mode” and praised the work of Gladney and groom Raul Rodriguez. “He was good last year, but he is great this year,” Alan Sherman wrote. Owned by Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farms, California Chrome, a 5-year-old California-bred, has won 10 of 19 starts and earned $6,442,650.