Horse of the Year California Chrome breezed one mile in 1:41 2/5 at his Los Alamitos Race Course headquarters Jan. 25 as he moves ever closer to his 4-year-old debut in the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes.
Under regular rider Victor Espinoza while wearing blinkers on a cleared racetrack, Califonia Chrome clocked through fractions of :25 3/5 seconds, :51 seconds flat, 1:03 2/5, 1:15 3/5, and 1:29 for seven furlongs by Los Alamitos head clocker Russ Hudak.
"He looked good," Hudak said. "He came to the wire under a nice hold."
Added Alan Sherman, son of and assistant to his father, trainer Art Sherman: "It was a very good work. I'm really, really happy with him."
California Chrome is zeroing in on the San Antonio Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park.
Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern, meanwhile, has been virtually ruled out of the San Antonio as he is recovering from an abscess on a hind foot.
"I had to get a work into him last week [but didn't]," trainer Bob Baffert said. "Right now it's pretty doubtful he's going to make the race. I don't want to rush him into it.
"He looks good now, but you can't run against those horses unless you're at least 90%."
Shared Belief, 2-year-old champion male of 2013 and winner of seven of eight starts, is expected to make the San Antonio. He is scheduled to next breeze at Golden Gate Fields Jan. 27.