'Chrome comes back in Pa. Derby

Regarding his birthplace, W.C. Fields may or may not have said the exact words "On the whole, I'd rather be in Philadelphia."

But in discussing today's Grade 2 Pennsylvana Derby, California-based trainer Art Sherman has a sound financial motive about the comeback race for Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome.

"I chose a million-dollar race over a $300,000 race," Sherman said in explaining his decision to ship the 3-year-old colt to Parx Racing (technically in Bensalem, Pa.,, a Philadelphia suburb) rather than stay home for the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes next weekend at Santa Anita.

Besides saving on traveling expenses, Sherman could have given his horse a race over the host track to the Grade 1 $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1. But going in the Awesome Again would have meant a pre-Classic matchup with unbeaten Shared Belief, a late-season contender for male 3-year-old championship honors. Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is pointing Shared Belief to his first start over a conventional dirt track in the Awesome Again after beating older horses in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic over Del Mar's synthetic surface.

Regarding Shared Belief, Sherman said this week that "I want to be in the best shape possible when I meet him. He's a terrific horse, and the Awesome Again is gonna come up a lot tougher than (the Pennsylvania Derby), in my opinion. And why hook older horses before the Breeders' Cup?"

In an eight-horse field, California Chrome was installed as even-money favorite from the rail post going a mile and an eighth. A $50,000 bonus is offered to California Chrome for winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and to Bayern for winning the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational. Post time Saturday is 4:40 p.m. CDT.

Victor Espinoza stays aboard California Chrome, who won six consecutive races (three Grade Is) before dead-heating for fourth in the June 7 Belmont Stakes in New York. California Chrome's performance may have been compromised when the horse next to him in the starting gate stepped on him and took a chunk of tissue out of the favorite's right front heel.

California Chrome has since worked six times at Los Alamitos Race Course, where he trained for the spring classics.

"Nobody wants the one hole, but there's nothing you can do about it," Sherman said. "The timing is perfect for getting him ready for the Breeders' Cup."

Bayern had his championship dreams shattered when 10th, beaten 20 lengths, in the mile-and-a-quarter Travers Aug. 23 at Saratoga. Before that, the Offlee Wild colt trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert came east to win the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont and the Haskell at Monmouth Park. Martin Garcia remains aboard Bayern, beaten favorite when third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby April 12 at Oaklawn Park.

Tapiture, Oaklawn's Grade 3 Southwest winner and Grade 2 Rebel runner-up, has consecutive graded victories in Kentucky and West Virginia for trainer Steve Asmussen. Both were under jockey Rosie Napravnik, who keeps the mount on the Tapit colt for owner-breeder Ron Winchell.

Also in the Pennsylvania Derby are graded winners Candy Boy, Protonico and Noble Moon along with Classic Giacnroll and C J's Awesome.

Sports on 09/20/2014

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