Albany, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2017) — Zakaroff, trained by Steve Specht, ran them down in the stretch to win the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby by half a length. Settling in at the half mile pole, Zakaroff drove determinedly down the stretch to become the second highest paying winner in Northern California’s premier Kentucky Derby prep race, paying $99.60, second only to Autism Awareness, who paid $126.00 in 2008. Zakaroff was just one horse in a string of upsets today, resulting in a .20¢ Pick 6 jackpot payout of a cool $240,030. And a late .50¢ Pick 4 payout of $33,018.
Zakaroff, with jockey Kyle Frey aboard, beat the shippers, including even money favorite Ann Arbor Eddie. Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mario Gutierrez, Ann Arbor Eddie stalked the pace until the second turn then dueled in the stretch before being caught. More Power To Him, trained by local trainer Faith Taylor, ran third, but was fanned four wide before closing nicely in the stretch. The second betting favorite, Sheer Flattery (5/2), was a no-show in today’s race, giving way in the final furlong. The El Camino Real Derby was for three year olds, at a distance of 1 and 1/8 miles and was completed in 1:51.34.
Steve Specht: “They didn’t give me much credit even though I didn’t finish that far behind some of these horses the last two times. I really thought this race was too far, that 1 mile or 1 1/16 miles was his limit. When he got to the stretch he showed a little extra that I didn’t think he had. I actually entered him in a first-level allowance sprint but the race didn’t go so I got stuck running here. Not a bad stick. I wasn’t out of my league but somebody has to be favored and somebody has to not be. That last race he was inside all the way and when it rains the inside is the deepest part of the track. He was kind of spinning his wheels. He’s turned out to be a little better than I thought he was going to be.”
Jockey Kyle Frey: “I’m kind of star struck. I’ve never been on the horse before, a complete pick up mount. I think we picked it up at the draw if I’m not mistaken. Everything happens for a reason. So thank God. We sat uncomfortably and I honestly thought we were going to be sitting a little further off, but they were walking at the front, so we were kind of just sitting right there pretty comfortable. I just tried not to mess it up. Steve did all the work. With how easy the fractions were and how calm the horse was. We were able to get out so smoothly and swiftly right at the perfect time. I almost thought I might have caught Ann Arbor sleeping, but when we got up to him our momentum was really moving and we got there.”
Tomorrow, February 19, is Dollar Day; enjoy a $1 Mimosa, $1 Beer, $1 Hot Dog, $1 General Admission, $1 General Parking, and $1 Program all day long. Monday, Presidents’ Day will feature special Holiday Racing with a usual first post time of 12:45 PM.