Espinoza: Chrome 'Stronger This Year'

Take it from a man who’s been as close to the horse as anyone: California

Chrome is bigger and better than last year.

So says Victor Espinoza, who rode the California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit to victories in four Grade I races last year en route to Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and male 3-year-old of the year.

“I think he’s stronger this year,” said Espinoza, who worked the immensely popular chestnut five furlongs Sunday morning at his Los Alamitos base in 1:03.60 in his final major breeze for Saturday’s $500,000 San Antonio Invitational at Santa Anita.

With blinkers on and over a cleared race track, Chrome’s fractional times were 25 1/5 and 49 4/5, according to Los Alamitos head clocker Russ Hudak.

“He went good; we’re happy with him,” said Alan Sherman, son of and assistant to his father, Art, who trains California Chrome. “He’ll ship to Santa Anita on Tuesday and gallop on the track Wednesday.”

Added Espinoza: “The way he feels when I work him, he’s bigger and more mature. From last year to this is a big difference. He’s been working really strong. I believe he’ll run as good as a 4-year-old as he did at three.”

Said Art Sherman: “I thought he was going to work him faster. Victor told me that he goes so easy he was afraid he would go too fast if he clucked to him. I was looking for a minute and change; that would have helped me a lot more going into this race.

“I think it’s a good work but I would have liked a sharper workout for this race. He’s doing so good though, so . . . his gallop out was stronger than it has been. He galloped out (six furlongs) in 1:11.80. He was so strong pulling up. He’ll be fresh and ready, I can tell you that.”

Chrome is expected to face once-beaten male 2-year-old champion of 2013 Shared Belief and eye-catching San Pasqual winner Hoppertunity, among others in the eagerly anticipated San Antonio Invitational, which will decided at a mile and an eighth for older horses.

“He’s running,” Baffert said unequivocally after Hoppertunity worked six furlongs in company Sunday morning in 1:14.20 under Martin Garcia. Stablemate Doctor Dempsey was clocked in 1:14.60.

“That’s good for him,” Baffert said of Hoppertunity’s time.

Shared Belief is scheduled to have his final major breeze for the San Antonio at his Golden Gate Fields base on Tuesday, then ship to Santa Anita on Wednesday. “He’ll work a half-mile under Russell Baze,” Jerry Hollendorfer said by phone Sunday morning.

Shared Belief, who could very well be unbeaten had his chances of winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic not been compromised by a rough start, will be seeking his ninth win from 10 career starts in the San Antonio.

“He’s a very consistent horse,” Hollendorfer said.

Probable for the San Antonio, which will be limited to 10 starters: Bronzo, Gary Stevens; California Chrome, Victor Espinoza; Clubhouse Ride, Aaron Gryder; Hoppertunity, Martin Garcia; Shared Belief, Mike Smith; Tonito M., Rafael Bejarano; Alfa Bird, Tyler Baze; and Imperative, Flavien Prat.

In other San Antonio news:

Trainer Bob Hess Jr. said Sunday morning he was “50-50” on running San Pasqual third-place finisher Blue Tone in the San Antonio or the Donn at Gulfstream the same day. “If he runs here,” Hess said, “Kent (Desormeaux) will ride him.”

Blue Tone worked five furlongs Sunday morning in a bullet 59 flat, fastest of 59 drills at the distance, the average time of which 1:01.31.

Trainer Mark Casse said he “wasn’t sure” on Dynamic Sky, who also is nominated to Saturday’s San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf, where the son of Sky Mesa owned by John Oxley has run seven times in his 21-race career.

“We’ve been preparing him like he’s going to run in the dirt race,” Casse said. “We’re definitely thinking about it and appreciate being invited. We’ll talk to Mr. Oxley and decide.”

Trainer Sean McCarthy said Gold Cup at Santa Anita winner Majestic Harbor will go in the San Marcos, not the San Antonio. Majestic Harbor worked five furlongs on Santa Anita’s main track Sunday in 1:00.40.

The race will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1.

Source: Ed Golden, Santa Anita Stable Notes