The decision to offer an “appearance fee” for all runners has virtually ensured champion California Chrome will face a full field at his home track of Los Alamitos next weekend when he has his lead-up to the inaugural Pegasus World Cup in Florida in January.

Los Alamitos has programed the Winter Challenge as a special stakes race specifically to serve as a prep race for California Chrome’s build up to his final race start in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup, the world’s richest horse race, at Gulfstream Park on January 28.

The Winter Challenge has drawn 29 nominations, the reason being an offer by Los Alamitos management to pay $10,000 to all starters in a bid to attract rivals for the champion.

After the Winter Challenge California Chrome is expected to have a final local workout at the southern California track in late December before shipping to Gulfstream on January 6 to prepare for the Pegasus World Cup.

Sherman feels next Saturday’s race will only help California Chrome as the seven-time G1 winner can get bored during lengthy stretches of training without a race.

Sherman, after being absent from Los Alamitos due to surgery and commitments with his team at Del Mar, watched California Chrome work for the first time in a month on December 10.

California Chrome logged his standard slow early, quick late breeze over five furlongs. The 5YO finished in 1:00.67 and galloped out to six furlongs in 1:13.4.

"That's it until next Saturday," Sherman said.

“The timing is great. This is a good chance for me to keep him tight and fit.

"He's just so cool and knows what's happening. He knows when it's time to go."