Sherman loves what he sees in California Chrome

Under the watchful eye of trainer Art Sherman, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome galloped 2 3/8 miles over the main track on a warm and sunny morning at Belmont Park. 

It was the first morning on the backstretch for the 77-year-old Sherman, who arrived from California late Monday afternoon and had a quick visit with his stable star, who is aiming to become the 12^th Triple Crown champion with a victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. 

"I haven't been back here for a lot of years, and I rode here years ago," said Sherman, who won more than 2,000 races as a jockey from 1957-78. "It's changed quite a bit. I didn't realize it was this big. After you get away from it, it's a huge racetrack. It's beautiful. It's good to be back." 

After schooling in the paddock, California Chrome got a hug around the neck from regular exercise rider Willie Delgado before heading to the 1 ½-mile track, where he jogged four furlongs before turning around for his slow and easy gallop. 

"I thought he looked better now than he did after the Preakness," Sherman said. "I couldn't believe how much weight he put on. He really looks good right now. Going on the Triple Crown trail, it's kind of rough. He's an amazing horse." 

Sherman returned to Los Alamitos Race Course near Los Angeles following the May 17 Preakness, leaving California Chrome with his son and assistant, Alan. The California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit will be the heavy favorite to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. 

"I don't think he has to win the Triple Crown to be a hero," Sherman said. "He's on a six-race winning streak. He'll always be my hero. Just to win the Derby and Preakness is good enough for me. If he gets the Belmont, that's the hat trick. Believe me, I'll be really satisfied then. I'm the kind of guy that I take one race at a time. I hope we have a good trip and everybody comes away healthy. That's my main concern." 

Sherman said his last visit to New York came in 2005, when he attended the Breeders' Cup to cheer on his friend and fellow trainer Greg Gilchrist and his horse, Lost in the Fog. Despite finishing seventh in the Sprint, the 3-year-old earned the Eclipse Award as champion sprinter. 

"I am kind of a city guy," Sherman said. "I like going around, and New York has always been a fun town for me. I remember when I was riding, there was a lot of action when I was a young feller." 

Sherman, who has won nearly 2,200 races as a trainer, sounded confident when asked if California Chrome would run as a 4-year-old should he sweep the Triple Crown. 

"We'd like to race him for another year, although I don't know," he said. "Sometimes when you're offered so much money, it's hard to refuse. I think that the owners will sure run him next year, from what I gather. They just got him insured for a lot of money. You don't pay the insurance premium and sell him right away." 

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Grade 1 TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial winner Wicked Strong returned to the track this morning for the first time since his bullet five-furlong breeze on Sunday to continue preparations for Saturday's Belmont Stakes. 

Trained by Jimmy Jerkens for Centennial Farms, Wicked Strong galloped 1 ½ miles on the main track after walking the shed row on Monday. He was clocked in 59.10, the fastest of a dozen horses, on the training track. 

"I galloped him at 7 o'clock because I thought it was going to get kind of hot and I didn't want to wait until 9:30 or 10 o'clock like we usually do the first day back after working hard," Jerkens said. "He's doing great." 

Jerkens said Wicked Strong will stand and school in the starting gate on Wednesday morning. 

"I haven't figured out what time yet," he said. "It all depends on when we can get our pony boy." 

A closing fourth in the Kentucky Derby following his Wood victory despite a troubled trip, Wicked Strong is gathering momentum as one of the primary roadblocks to California Chrome's quest to win the Triple Crown. 

"I can see why," Jerkens said. "He had a pretty good excuse in the Derby. His Wood was great, and he's trained really well since then. He really is training great. But, you never know until you lead them over there." 

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After speaking with the owners this morning, trainer Linda Rice said Kid Cruz has been withdrawn from consideration for Saturday's 146^th Belmont Stakes. 

Rice said Kid Cruz, campaigned by Vina Del Mar Thoroughbreds and Black Swan Stable, will be pointed to either the $150,000 Easy Goer on the Belmont undercard or the Grade 3, $200,000 Dywer at Belmont Park on July 5. Both races are for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. 

In his most recent start, Kid Cruz ran eighth of 10, beaten 16 lengths by California Chrome in the Preakness. 

"We have decided to pass on the Belmont," Rice said. "Frankly, he didn't perform at Pimlico. It was a flat effort on his part. We'll just look for an easy race for him to get him back on track. It's a long summer." 

Kid Cruz had won two straight $100,000 stakes in Maryland heading into the Preakness including Pimlico Race Course's hometown prep, the 1 1/16-mile Federico Tesio, on April 19. 

Claimed for $50,000 last fall at Aqueduct, Kid Cruz has two wins and a second in four starts for Rice. His sire, Lemon Drop Kid, won the 1999 Belmont Stakes in a field that included Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Charismatic, leading Rice to believe that the 1 ½-mile distance would have suited Kid Cruz. 

"That would have been terrific," she said, "but I just think his last effort was a non-effort on his part. He's a nice horse, and we want to do the right thing by him. We're going to consider the Easy Goer, but we may decide to wait for the Dwyer." 

Rice believes that California Chrome is the horse to end the 36-year drought since Affirmed last swept the Triple Crown in 1978. 

"I think so. I think he's going to be very hard to beat," she said. "This horse has been so dominant, I think there's a good chance we will see it."