California Chrome Will Head Home Thursday

California Chrome had a quiet Sunday at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates a day after his dramatic win in the $10 million Dubai World Cup.

Alan Sherman, assistant trainer to his father, trainer Art Sherman, said in an email that California Chrome "came out of his race great."

California Chrome won the Dubai World Cup at 1-1/4 miles on dirt by 3-3/4 lengths in a stellar field. He won even though his saddle slipped, creating an awkward situation for jockey Victor Espinoza and causing concern for his backers in the stretch. The saddle was visibly farther down California Chrome's back when he reached the wire than it was at the start.

The win was worth $6 million for owners Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farms, who race as California Chrome LLC. The 2014 Horse of the Year, California Chrome has won 12 of 21 starts and earned $12,532,650, a record for a North American-based Thoroughbred.

Curlin, the Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008, earned $10,501,800. He won the Dubai World Cup in 2008 when the race was worth $6 million.

Sherman said that California Chrome walked on Sunday and will do so on a daily basis until he is flown to Chicago on Thursday. California Chrome will undergo quarantine in Chicago before being shipped to Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky for a rest of three to four weeks, Sherman said.

At the end of April, California Chrome will be flown to California and will rejoin the Sherman stable at Los Alamitos. The 5-year-old is not expected to resume racing until late summer, possibly in the Pacific Classic on Aug. 20 at Del Mar.