FIRST, THIRD AND FOURTH PLACE FINISHERS IN DECEMBER’S GOLD RUSH STAKES HAVE THEIR EYES ON THE BIG PRIZE
9 of the 11 horses entered in this year’s El Camino Real Derby have raced multiple times or exclusively in the Bay Area. With that, few are scared to take on the likes of Breeders Cup in-the-money finisher McKinnon or Blackadder, from the powerhouse stable of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
The classiest of the local contingent in this Saturday’s ‘Derby is Boise, who won the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate in December. Before that effort, he came up three-quarters of a length short in the Qatar Golden Mile on Breeders Cup Friday at Del Mar. His most recent start, on January 2 in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita, was a headscratcher. The Jonathan Wong trainee never picked up his feet, racing in midfield throughout. Wong believes there was a legit excuse for the poor showing.
“He really didn’t get a hold of the turf [at Santa Anita],” said Wong. “He was spinning his wheels the whole time. It’s weird because he won on the turf first out [at Golden Gate] and ran really well at Del Mar. He’s doing really well since his last race. He went really good in his last two works.”
Jockey Evin Roman, who has worked Boise recently and will be aboard Saturday, concurred with Wong’s statement.
“I really liked the way he worked the other day,” said Roman.
In terms of tactics, Wong said that Boise has a preferable run style.
“We’ll let him place himself,” said Wong. “He’s got tactical speed. He can sit off and run on like he did in the Gold Rush or be close if the pace isn’t that fast. I don’t think the distance [a mile and an eighth] will hurt him at all.”
Two runners who failed to come home victorious in the Gold Rush will look to turn the tables on Boise. Dr Pescado won the Golden Nugget Stakes sprinting in November and returned one month later at a route of ground, completing the trifecta and finishing a length and a half behind Boise in the Gold Rush. He takes a two-month freshening and returns to the races with a pair of six furlong works on display for trainer Felix Rondan.
“Beautiful,” was how Rondan described Dr Pescado’s most recent morning drill. “He’s doing really good. He is ready.”
Rondan saddles a second entrant in Nuestro Engreido, coming out of sprint races. His pedigree, by Grade 3 route winner Cat Burgler out of a dam whose lone win was going a mile on the turf, suggests extra distance will not be an issue.
“Nuestro Engriedo will be on the lead,” said Rondan. “[Dr] Pescado will be off the pace.”
C’Mon Man, who like Boise also exits an off-the-board finish in the Eddie Logan Stakes, ran fourth in the Gold Rush, but was only a length and a half behind Boise and a nose away from finishing ahead of Dr Pescado. He posts a pair of 7-furlong stamina building drills for trainer Bill McLean and “should be fit and ready for his best” in the El Camino Real Derby.
“On the [longer] works, they don’t break off that fast. As long as they finish good the last three-eighths and gallop out good on the turn, that’s what we’re looking for,” said McLean. “Both times he worked, he finished really strong. [Exercise rider] Mario Cisneros came back to the barn [after both works] and gave me a high five.”
In the Eddie Logan, C’Mon Man was a non-factor. McLean said Juan Hernandez, who rode him that day, came back after the race with valuable feedback.
“Juan said he just hated the turf,” said McLean. “He couldn’t get a hold of it at all. He’s a nice horse and I think he’ll really like going the [mile and an eighth]. I think he’ll be laying in midpack and, like in his works, hopefully he comes home strong.”
The El Camino Real Derby is the eighth race on a 9-race program. If Triple Crown nominated, the winner will receive a free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, in Mid-May at Pimlico. Last year, El Camino Real Derby winner Rombauer took advantage of his free berth and went on to win the Preakness three months after the El Camino Real Derby triumph. The El Camino Real Derby winner also picks up 10 Kentucky Derby points.
The El Camino Real Derby (Race 8 of 9 on Saturday at 1 1/8 miles)
#1 Stormy Samurai (Jockey William Antongeorgi III…trainer Jack Steiner…morning line odds: 8-1)
#2 McKinnon (Abel Cedillo…Doug O’Neill…8-5)
#3 Unraptured (Armando Ayuso…Tim McCanna…10-1)
#4 Blackadder (Edwin Maldonado…Bob Baffert…7-2)
#5 Nuestro Engriedo (Santos Rivera…Felix Rondan…20-1)
#6 Boise (Evin Roman…Jonathan Wong…9-2)
#7 Dr Pescado (Pedro Terrero…Felix Rondan…15-1)
#8 Meetmeattheclub (Silvio Amador…Dan Franko…50-1)
#9 C’Mon Man (Irving Orozco…Bill McLean…15-1)
#10 Il Bellator (Alejandro Gomez…Jose Bautista…20-1)
#11 Del Mo (Ruben Fuentes…Doug O’Neill…10-1)
UNRAPTURED “READY TO RUMBLE” AHEAD OF EL CAMINO REAL DERBY
Florida-bred Unraptured put up a pair of strong efforts in his first two lifetime starts sprinting. In career start number three, the Tim McCanna trainee got to a route of ground and showed the world he was ready to “run long” against tougher company.
Sent off as a low odds favorite against just two other rivals in a one-mile allowance race last month, Unraptured sat off the speed, blew past his company when asked to run down the lane and won geared down, winning by open lengths.
There is no doubt that Unraptured will get the acid test in Saturday’s El Camino Real Derby. McCanna believes his colt is up for the task.
“He didn’t beat a big field last time, but he did it the right way, and he had a lot more left in the tank,” said McCanna. “He’s got a very quick recovery time. After he works, by the time he gets back to the barn he’s not even blowing. After his races, he’s still got a lot of energy.”
McCanna is confident his El Camino Real Derby contender can stretch out another furlong to the mile and an eighth distance. The key, says McCanna, is having a horse that can relax and doesn’t expand a significant amount of energy early in a race.
“He’s just so ratable,” said McCanna. “He’s very push button. From what I saw in his last race, he might even be a better route horse [than a sprinter]. The ones who are rank horses aren’t the ones who get to run this far. He’s a very manageable horse on where you want to put him. Hopefully he gets a good, clean trip and can make a run at ‘em the last eighth [of a mile.]”
CEDILLO BACK AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS FOR SATURDAY’S ‘DERBY WITH MORNING LINE FAVORITE MACKINNON
Abel Cedillo hasn’t ridden at Golden Gate Fields in a few years. The last time we saw him here, he won the 2018 Winter/Spring meet leading rider title by a colossal margin. After that meeting, he relocated to Southern California and has had great success, riding for top outfits while winning a plethora of races every meet at numerous levels, from claiming affairs to Grade 1 glories.
This Saturday, Cedillo returns to his old stomping grounds to ride 8-5 morning line favorite MACKINNON in the El Camino Real Derby. He also picked up three additional mounts on the card: Kazan in Race 3, Lonely On Top in Race 4 and Amiko Chow in the ninth and final race.
MacKinnon will take some catching if he comes with his best effort. Most recently, the son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah finish fourth behind next-out Grade winner Newgrange in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. Last year, MacKinnon ran third in the Grade I Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf and, before that, picked up a pair of stakes wins at Del Mar and Santa Anita on turf. Doug O’Neill conditions MacKinnon.
GGF PERSONEL GIVE THEIR PICKS TO WIN “THE BIG GAME” ON SUNDAY
The 2022 Super Bowl commences this Sunday between the LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. Earlier this week, we asked a slew of personnel at Golden Gate Fields who they are rooting for to win the “big game.” These are the responses we got.
- Linda Anderson (racing official): Bengals “I hate the Rams.”
- William Antongeorgi III (jockey): Rams “[Bengals quarterback] Joe Burrow baby!”
- Jose Bautista (trainer): Rams “We’re from California!”
- Matt Dinerman (track announcer): Bengals “LA is probably the better team, but I’m rooting for the underdogs.”
- Tom “Bomber” Doutrich (jockey agent): Rams “I’m picking the Rams because Dinerman is picking the Bengals.”
- Assael Espinoza (jockey): Rams “I was born in LA, so I have to root for my hometown team.”
- Steve Fisher (Horseman/Jockeys Room Attendant): Bengals “I love Joe Burrow. I’m rooting for his team.”
- Reid France (trainer): Bengals “I like Joe Burrow, and [the Bengals] have never won a championship. They haven’t been in the Super Bowl for a long, long time so I’m pulling for them.”
- Ruben Fuentes (jockey): Bengals “They haven’t been in the Super Bowl since 1988. Hopefully they made it this far to win it all!”
- Brett Harmon (jockey agent): Bengals “The Rams beat my 9ers and that’s the bottom line. So, I want the Bengals to win.”
- O.J Jauregui (trainer): Rams “I’m pulling for the Rams but I gotta say…I like Joe Burrow a lot.”
- Lisa Jones (racing official): Nobody “I want the Packers to win next year.”
- Erick Lopez (jockey): Bengals “They’re the underdogs! Why not?”
- Tim McCanna (trainer): Rams “My son and [Rams wide receiver] Cooper Kupp played basketball together when they were kids. He’s from Yakima, Washington, so there’s some hometown interest.”
- Bill McLean (trainer): Bengals “I’m hoping for a good, competitive game!”
- Jacqui Navarre (trainer): Bengals “Not the Rams. They play on Hollywood Park!”
- Fernando “Shoes” Navarro (jockey agent): Bengals “Two words: Joe Burrow. Plus, I don’t like the Rams.”
- Irving Orozco (jockey): Rams “They’re my team! I’m from the LA area and I’ve always been a Rams fan since they moved there.”
- Kevin Orozco (jockey): Rams “The Rams played where Hollywood Park used to be…and I was born in LA.”
- Jerry Stone (racing official/Equibase chart caller): Rams “I gotta root for the California team.”
- Jamey Thomas (trainer): Bengals “Joey Burrows and [wide receiver] Ja’Marr Chase are the real deal. I think the Bengals are peaking at the right time. The offensive coordinator knows the game plan and can make adjustments at half time. The Rams are good but I’m rooting for the Bengals.”
- Jayme Thomas (racing official): “I’m a Seahawks fan…and the Rams are in my division. So naturally, I’m rooting against them.”
- Tina Walker Bryant (racing official): I’ve got [score squares]. At the end of each quarter, if the Rams have a 4 at the end of their score (ex: 14) and the Bengals have a 0 at the end of theirs (ex: 10) then I win a prize! So, I’m rooting for the score!”
- Jonathan Wong (trainer): Bengals “The Rams knocked my 9ers out of the playoffs!”
- Blaine Wright (trainer): Rams “A while back I was in Vegas and I wagered on the Rams to win the Super Bowl this year. I got them at 6-1!”
CLAIMS REPORT
Below is a list of claims from last week:
FRIDAY
Race 3: Bourbonwithatwist (New trainer Reid France…new owner Lamonte Isom)
Race 7: Bandeena (Isidro Tamayo..Leon Scott)
Race 7: Brite Tan (Jamey Thomas..Hall, Merrill, Thomas & Thomas)
SATURDAY
Race 1: Hong Kong Cowboy (Terry Johnson…Reynaldo Gonzalez)
Race 4: Imperial Creed (Sammy Calvario…Huntertown Farm & Calvario)
Race 4: She’s a Lil Flirt (Blaine Wright…Chappell Alpine Farms LLC)
Race 5: Manaalaboutdamoney (Jack Steiner…Gary & Deborah Lusk)
Race 8: Megameister (Jose Puentes…Mendoza, Mendoza & Puentes)
Race 9: Cry Me a Runner (Manny Badilla…Debra Medlock)
SUNDAY
Race 1: Big City Bane (Gary Greiner…Desiree & Renee Greiner)
Race 5: Colormemoney (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott & Steiner)
Race 5: Sunrise Journey (Salvador Naranjo…Silvia Soto)
Race 7: Torpedo Away (Blaine Wright…Seamist Racing, Wright Racing Stable, Becker & Becker)
FINISH LINES: Along with the El Camino Real Derby on Saturday, there are a handful of high-quality races on the card. Race 5 is a first level allowance, Race 6 is a maiden special weight and Race 7 is a second level allowance. In the seventh race, rapidly improving stakes placed gelding Tom’s Surprise takes a bump up in class and faced another stakes placed racer, Tesoro, and recent second level allowance winner Wine and Whisky in a salty field of seven…Happy birthday to trainers Jacquie Navarre and Isidro Tamayo, who celebrate their birthday’s in the next seven days….$57,763 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager for Friday…$3,637 is carried over into the Rolling Super High Five for the first race in which the wager is offered on Friday…Leg D of the Stronach 5 is Race 3 from Golden Gate on Friday...First post on Friday and Saturday is 12:45 PM while Sunday has an early first post of 11:15 AM.