Del Mar Racetrack sent out a tweet Wednesday confirming the nomination of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome to the track’s $300,000 Hollywood Derby on Saturday, Nov. 29.
“We can confirm that trainer Art Sherman has nominated California Chrome for the Grade I Hollywood Derby for 3yo at Del Mar on Saturday 11/29,” the tweet said.
Owned by Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome would make his turf racing debut in the 1 1/8-mile Hollywood Derby after racing successfully on both dirt and synthetic surfaces.
The 3-year-old colt finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1 just a neck behind winner Bayern and runner-up Toast of New York.
“He came out of the race super,” Sherman said recently at Del Mar. “I just talked to (son and assistant trainer) Alan at Los Alamitos and he said he’s jumping and playing and feeling good. I think he’d run an awesome race if I could get him one before the end of the year.”
The Classic was California Chrome’s best race since winning the Preakness and may have put him back in the discussion for division honors.
Early this year he posted three straight wins at Santa Anita in the California Cup Derby, San Felipe Stakes and Santa Anita Derby before taking the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
He was fourth in the Belmont Stakes and sixth to Bayern in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 20.
California Chrome has banked $4,042,650 from 15 career starts with eight wins.
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