Derby trail: Creole Chrome works toward possible start in Wood

Trainer Joe Sharp has yet to pin down a next start for Three Diamonds Farm’s stakes winner Creole Chrome, but said Saturday that the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 4 at Aqueduct is a possible target. The 1 1/8-mile route for sophomores offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.

The Louisiana-bred son of Volatile has been based at Fair Grounds throughout this winter, but shipped to Keeneland on Monday. Saturday morning he worked a solo half-mile in 47.8 seconds, his second workout since winning the Louisiana Stallion of the Year Star Guitar on February 28 at Fair Grounds.

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“It was so good,” Sharp said of the work. “He went 47 and four by himself, really within himself, and he seemed to do it very effortlessly. Having just shipped up there on Monday, it was good to see him get acclimated as quick as he did and continue to mature like we’re hoping he would.”

Creole Chrome was entered in the one-mile Gotham (G3) here on February 28, but scratched in favor of the one-mile and 70-yard Star Guitar, where he romped by 6 3/4 lengths. The colt has made all four starts against state-breds at Fair Grounds, including an open-lengths debut graduation in November and a head allowance victory in January, both at six furlongs.

Creole Chrome is also nominated to a pair of upcoming stakes at Keeneland in the seven-furlong Lafayette on April 3 and the nine-furlong Blue Grass (G1) on April 4.

“We are completely open to all possibilities,” Sharp said. “I don’t know any more today than I did last week, but the Wood is on the consideration list. I always feel like being home puts you at an advantage, but we’ll see what happens.”

Out of 2009 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) winner Funny Moon, Creole Chrome was bred by Gulf Haven Farms and was purchased for $55,000 at the Texas Thoroughbred Association yearling sale. He has banked $139,150 through a 4: 3-0-1 record.