California Chrome Likely to Miss Rest of 2015 with Injury, May Never Race Again

California Chrome won the first two legs of horse racing's Triple Crown last year, but he may not race again after suffering a cannon bone bruise.

BloodHorse.com's Jeremy Balan reported what trainer Art Sherman had to say about the prolific horse's future on Sunday:

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He's probably out for the rest of the year. It's three months, but that's almost the rest of the year, and if you're going to race him again, you have to get him back into training. If they decide to run him next year, he'll be fine...(The owners) haven't made up their mind, but I'll know in the next couple days.

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Although Sherman did indicate California Chrome is otherwise completely healthy, it will take some time for him to get back into the groove of training for graded stakes races.

California Chrome's Triple Crown bid fell short when he finished fourth at the 2014 Belmont Stakes. After failing to finish in the money in his next start, the colt was third in last year's Breeders Cup Classic and won the most recent Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

He also had two runner-up finishes in 2015, most recently at the Dubai World Cup. Sporting News' Mike Wilkening highlighted how California Chrome has had a rather fruitful, albeit shortened season:

Had he run at this year's Breeders' Cup Classic, California Chrome would have been one of the top contenders and a fascinating adversary to reigning Triple Crown champion American Pharoah.

Sending California Chrome to Royal Ascot after his run in Dubai led to a bone bruise and may wind up spelling the conclusion to an excellent career. With the wear and tear of the Triple Crown schedule and a busy slate thereafter, California Chrome's connections have plenty to hang their hats on if this is the end.