Sherman has a good one

Art Sherman knows what it takes to get a horse to the Kentucky Derby and win. He had a close-up view as an 18-year-old workout rider when Swaps won the 1955 Run for the Roses. Nearly 60 years later, Sherman is taking his own colt to Louisville as the early Derby favorite.

California Chrome romped to a 51/4-length victory in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby in Arcadia, Calif., on Saturday, a race Swaps won by a half-length before he went on to Kentucky Derby glory.

Like Swaps, California Chrome is a California-bred chestnut.

“He’s my Swaps,” said Sherman, now a 77-year-old trainer assisted by his son Alan. “I’m very humbled to have a horse like this.”

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, California Chrome ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.52. He paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10 as the 3-5 favorite of 35,241 fans.

California Chrome has won his last four races by a combined 24 1/4 lengths for Sherman, a former jockey who has been in racing for 50 years but has never had a horse as good as this one.

Rebel Stakes winner Hoppertunity returned $4 and $2.60, while Robert Lewis Stakes winner Candy Boy was another 31/2 lengths back in third and paid $2.40.

California Chrome earned 100 points for the victory, giving him 150 to move atop the leaderboard in the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the 20-horse field for the May 3 Kentucky Derby.

Wood Memorial

Wicked Strong pulled a 9-1 upset in the $1 million Wood Memorial for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct in New York.

The surprising victory earned the colt $590,000 in purse money, and 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. He now has more than enough points to enter the Run for the Roses.

Rajiv Maragh was aboard as Wicked Strong, who beat previously undefeated Samraat by 31/2 lengths.

Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, Wicked Strong paid $20.40, $7.80 and $4.20. Samraat, 5 for 5 coming in, returned $4.80 and $3 as he edged Social Inclusion by a nose for place.

Social Inclusion, the 8-5 favorite, paid $2.70 to show.

Central Bank Ashland

Room Service and Rosalind dueled to an exciting dead-heat finish in the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., and earn big points toward the Kentucky Oaks.

Grand National

Pineau De Re sprinted clear after the final fence to win a chaotic Grand National Steeplechase by five lengths.

Ridden by Leighton Aspell, the 25-1 shot became the third straight outsider to win the world’s most famous jumps race, taking place in Aintree, England. Balthazar King (14-1) was second and 10-1 joint-favorite Double Seven was third.