California Chrome healthy, ready for 2014 Preakness Stakes

California Chrome worked out in the rain on Friday morning in Baltimore. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

After being treated for a minor cough and a blister in his throat this week, Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome was deemed healthy and ready to race in Saturday's 139th running of the Preakness Stakes by assistant trainer Alan Sherman, according to Tom LaMarra of Bloodhorse.com.

"California Chrome is fine," Sherman after the colt's Friday workout. "His throat is fine. He got a little tickle, but he's not going to be scratched. I don't know why it was blown out of proportion. The horse is in perfect shape."

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California Chrome was heard coughing after his Thursday gallop. He has run through rain and 25 mph wind gusts on a sloppy track at Pimlico the last two days.

"I was impressed," head trainer Art Sherman said about California Chrome's ease in dealing with the rough conditions. "He was wearing four bandages, and he didn't have mud on any of them. He handled the track. He's a California-bred, so he doesn't see [those conditions]."

Art Sherman, the head trainer, added that the horse's appetite has been good after having his throat treated with a glycerine wash.

A 3-5 favorite for the race, California Chrome will start from the third post position in the 10-horse field. The position has produced 10 winners, the last being Prairie Bayou in 1993, according to ESPN.

"If there is speed in this race, he's not going to be too far off it," Art Sherman said. "The horse will run his race. They better have their running shoes on. I think we'll do really well. [Jockey] Victor [Espinosa] said he has never gotten to the bottom of the horse."

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