California Chrome's throat blister 'not a big deal'

Kentucky Derby winner California

Chrome is being treated for the recurrence of a minor throat irritation that his

connections say will not affect his preparation for the 139th Preakness Stakes

at Pimlico on Saturday.

Alan Sherman, assistant to his father, trainer Art Sherman,

said that the colt has a small throat blister that is being treated with a

glycerin throat wash. The blister was discovered during a thorough examination

after California Chrome coughed Thursday morning.

"He's fine," Alan Sherman said. "He had it going into the Derby and it went

away. After he ran in there, it came back a little bit, but it's not a big deal

at all."

After the colt coughed, blood work was done and he was

scoped. Nothing but the blister was found. Alan Sherman said a throat blister is

fairly common.

"I don't know how they get them, but a lot of horses get

them," Sherman said, comparing it to an itchy throat for a human.

When questions arose about the status of the colt's health,

Alan Sherman issued a statement to dispel rumors that California Chrome was

sick.

"The horse is completely fine," he said in the statement. "His blood work

came back perfect. He coughed about four times today and we got him checked out

right away. The blister isn't going to affect him at all; the vet said there

were absolutely no other problems, nothing else going on."

"I've always got concerns: the weather, hoping that he

doesn't get a cold," Sherman said. "You're always watching him, taking his

temperature three times a day because of the change in weather. One day it's

hot; one day it's like this. The next day it will be raining.

"You've got to monitor your horse really well and make sure that he is 100

percent. That's my key worry right now, that he doesn't catch a cold, or

anything like that."

Sherman acknowledged the arrival of some fast new entrants

will present pace challenges in the Preakness that did not materialize in the

slowly run Derby.

"I think there is a going to be a different scenario of the

race," Art Sherman said. "It looks like there is going to be some legitimate

speed, but don't underestimate this horse. He's been head and head with horses

in :09 (1:09) and change and did draw off and he did do a mile in 1:33 and

change. He can go with the best, I think. He's proven it. He's kind of like

push-button. You don't have to be on the lead, but when you ask him to run he's

going to give you a burst coming down the lane."