In his final work before he resumes his racing career in the Grade II, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 20, 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome drilled six furlongs in 1:13.80 Saturday morning at Los Alamitos.

Away since finishing in a dead heat for fourth in the Belmont Stakes June 7, the California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit, who has been stabled at Los Alamitos since early in the year, turned in splits of 25.40 for the opening quarter, 49.60 for a half-mile and five furlongs in 1:01.80. According to Los Alamitos clocker Russ Hudak, California Chrome galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27.80.

Los Alamitos Race Course went on to say in their press release that Saturday morning’s work came a week after California Chrome had gone six furlongs in 1:10.37 between races in front of a very enthusiastic crowd.

“Very nice, very nice,” said trainer Art Sherman of the colt’s latest exercise. “I thought he did it well in hand. I didn’t want to go as fast today. I wanted more air into him. He kicked it in. He went the last eighth of a mile in 12 (seconds) and galloped out a mile in 1:43.”

A winner of eight of 13 and earnings of $3,532,108, California Chrome will ship to Parx on Tuesday, Sept. 16th for the 1 1/8 mile Derby at the Bensalem, Pa. track.

“We’ll gallop him over the track to see how he handles it, then school him, stand him in the gate, walk through the paddock, just basic stuff,” said Sherman. “He’s not going to need anything else.”

Background – California Chrome (foaled February 18, 2011) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2014 Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Bred in California, the horse is a grandson of Pulpit, with two lines in his pedigree to the California-bred 1955 Kentucky Derby winner Swaps. The chestnut-colored horse was named for his flashy white markings, called “chrome” by horse aficionados. As a foal, he was nicknamed “Junior” in honor of his sire, Lucky Pulpit.

He is owned by Perry Martin from Yuba City, California, and Steve Coburn of Topaz Lake, Nevada, who named their partnership DAP Racing, standing for “Dumb Ass Partners”—a tongue-in-cheek response to a passerby who questioned their wisdom in purchasing California Chrome’s dam, Love the Chase. California Chrome’s trainers are the father–son team of Art and Alan Sherman.