With hundreds of race fans rolling out of bed on a Saturday morning to cheer him on, California Chrome gave them every reason to believe he will become the first thoroughbred to win the Triple Crown in 36 years when he breezed a half-mile in 47.69 seconds at Belmont Park.
With jockey Victor Espinoza up, the workout began shortly before 7 a.m., and California Chrome's handlers said it went just as expected.
"It was a great work, exactly what we wanted," assistant trainer Alan Sherman said. Earlier in the week, Sherman had said the chestnut colt was "climbing out of his skin" and needed the workout, his only schedule timed run before next Saturday's Belmont Stakes.
Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Vesce told Newsday: "Off that work, he's going to be tough to beat. I think we're going to have a Triple Crown winner, and I didn't think that before.''
"Chromie" entered the track at 6:38 to an introduction and an ovation from fans who had gathered for Breakfast at Belmont. The work began on the far turn, and California Chrome accelerated down the stretch, his stride captured by the iPhone cameras of fans and the video cameras of major news outlets.
"It was great to have the fans come out to see him,'' Sherman said. "Victor said he went great and that he was very happy with him.''
Media and fans returned with the horse to Barn 26, where California Chrome was bathed. Newsday reported that, when exercise rider Willie Delgado walked him around the inside of the barn, the charismatic colt even stopped to pose, obliging the equine paparazzi with full-face and profile shots.
"The people's horse,'' as he is called, clearly loves the people's attention.
Sherman said the colt will walk Sunday morning before resuming gallops of 1½ to two miles Monday with Delgado.
"He looked great,'' said Espinoza, who flew from California just for the ride. "He knows when I get on him that he's going to work. He handled the track very well, and I think he likes the surface at Belmont.''
When asked about the Triple Crown bid, Sherman said, "It's been a fun ride, possibly something none of us ever will do again. I think Chrome has the will. He just loves his job. I'm confident in the horse, but we still have to run the race.''
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