California Chrome gets acquainted with Pimlico

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Baltimore, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - California Chrome, this year's Kentucky Derby champ, went to the track Tuesday morning to get a feel for the Pimlico surface for Saturday's upcoming Preakness Stakes.

"He jogged and he was great," said assistant trainer Alan Sherman, who has managed the horse since the Derby for his father, Art. "He stood out there for a while, just looked around and took it all in. He's a really curious horse. He likes to look around a lot and check out the surroundings. He was good. He was really good."

Also visiting the Pimlico track for first time Tuesday were General a Rod, Kid Cruz and Ride On Curlin.

Social Inclusion, who was the first Preakness contender to arrive at Pimlico last week, jogged once around the racetrack with exercise rider Domingo Navarro in the saddle.

Ring Weekend, stabled at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md, galloped 1 5/8 miles under Alice Clapham Tuesday morning for trainer Graham Motion.

The filly Ria Antonia jogged a mile under exercise rider Maurice Sanchez at Churchill Downs first thing Tuesday morning. The filly will have the benefit of having Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel riding Saturday. Borel guided Rachel Alexandra to victory in the 2009 Preakness.

At Keeneland, Pablo Del Monte galloped 1 1/2 miles as he prepares to make his first start since finishing third in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 12.

"He's certainly ready," co-owner and trainer Wesley Ward said. "He worked 1:10-and-change last week and he came back with a 1:12 1/5 on Saturday. He's had the spacing between the Blue Grass and the Preakness now. If ever you'd want to take on a Kentucky Derby winner it's when he's coming back on short rest, like these two weeks."

Dynamic Impact, with exercise rider Marco Cano, galloped 1 1/2 miles at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning.

Bayern walked the shedrow Tuesday at Churchill Downs. The colt, trained by Bob Baffert, will fly from Louisville Wednesday with Dynamic Impact and Ria Antonia.