California Chrome's Other Kentucky Derby Connection

We've all read about the striking chestnut colt's romp to victory in the Kentucky Derby yesterday.  But did you know there's another California connection in this story?  A California-bred horse hadn't won the Big Race since Decidedly ran in 1962. But  trainer Art Sherman, who became the oldest trainer to win the Derby at 77 was associated with the famous Swaps, who won the Derby in 1955.

 (Swaps with Willie Shoemaker - Kentucky Derby)

At the time, Sherman was working as an exercise boy for trainer Mesh Tenney.  Sherman, in fact, traveled in the same train car with Swaps as he made his journey from California to Kentucky. Not bad for an 18-year-old boy? It's fitting then that Sherman made a visit to Swaps' grave site at the near-by Kentucky Derby Museum.  Sherman was a young stable hand, then jockey, and now uber-successful trainer.  Hard work pays off in the long-run, with a little luck added.