Take a Ride on Cinderella Story/Derby Contender California Chrome

The flashy west coast colt California Chrome has been one very busy derby contender!  

In addition to being undefeated thus far in the 2014 season and racking up winnings and accolades, “Chrome Chrome” has also been very busy on social media promoting his wicked good story and inviting fans along for the ride — literally. Last week, the team for the dashing likely favorite posted the video below that combines helmet cam awesomeness with your standard running shots, and the result is a thrilling perspective of what it’s like to take the real deal for a spin.

California Chrome’s story has made-for-TV movie written all over it: The colt is aptly named, as he is not only sporting four white socks and a blaze, but he’s also California born and bred. His dam cost the breeders (and uniquely, still CC’s part-owners) only $8,000, and her breed fee to the unproven stallion Lucky Pulpit cost a mere $2,500. Despite recent offers upwards of $6 million, CC has never been sold.

His trainer is Art Sherman, a Kentucky Derby first timer who had never trained a horse entered in a $1 million stakes race before CC in the Santa Anita Handicap earlier this year, which of course he won. Now they’re on their way to the biggest race in America as the favorites.

But it’s not exactly Sherman’s first Derby, and he’s surely hoping it will bring him some luck now: back in 1955, almost 60 years ago to the day, he accompanied one of the only California-bred Derby winners to his winning Run for the Roses as a scrappy young exercise boy: the legendary Swaps. If California Chrome can follow in Swap’s hoof prints, he’ll be only the fourth California-bred colt in history to win the derby, and the first since 1962.

Trainer Art Sherman Aboard Swaps in 1955, courtesy of the Paulick Report

If his Cinderella story has you hooked, you can follow more of the fun on California Chrome’s Facebook Page, and tune in for the Run for the Roses on May 3.

Go Riding.

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