California Chrome's brother, Faversham, pointing to stakes
It might too late for Faversham to follow in the Triple Crown footsteps of his accomplished full brother, California Chrome -- his late racing debut put a dash in those hopes -- but the 3-year-old ridgling who ran a promising second in his first start last Monday at Santa Anita could still have a bright future ahead of him.
The California-bred chestnut son of Lucky Pulpit, also trained by Art Sherman for husband and wife owners Perry and Denise Martin, closed from eighth and last at nearly 9-1 in the race, beaten only a length and a quarter.
The six-furlong sprint for Cal-breds was captured by 11-10 favorite Violent Ridge, the second of three winners trained Monday by Hector Palma, who, like Sherman, is an octogenarian.
• RELATED: Watch Faversham's debut race
“I was very excited about his race,” said Sherman, who turns 81 on Feb. 17. (Palma will be 81 on the Fourth of July). “He made up so much ground, and I knew that going a route he’ll be a much better horse, but I needed to get him started, get him a little experience, because I’m kind of behind on him.
“All the good three-year-olds have already run and proven themselves, so we’ll see what happens. We’re kind of pointing for the Cal Cup, it looks like.”
That would be the $200,000 California Cup Derby at a mile and a sixteenth on Monday, Feb. 19, Presidents Day.
Named for a friend of Perry Martin, it remains to be seen whether Faversham will accomplish as much as his two-time Horse of the Year brother, although they do have similarities.
“They’ve got the same attitude,” Sherman said. “They’re kind of up front-type horses. He’s got a good mind, nothing bothers him. You could see that in the paddock. He’s just not as big and stout as Chrome was.”
Meanwhile, Sherman is eagerly awaiting California Chrome’s first crop next month. Chrome covered a full book of 145 mares at Taylor Made Farm Nicholasville, Ky., where he stands for $40,000.
“He has a bunch of foals that will be dropped in February," Sherman said, "so it will be nice to see what they look like."
Source: Santa Anita Park news release