El Camino Real Derby 2016 at Golden Gate Fields

OffTrackBetting.com - Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, California will play host to the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby on Saturday, February 13. A purse of $200,000 and 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby will be on the line for a group of three year olds willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Golden Gate's All Weather Track.

A full field of 14 will give it a go in the El Camino Real Derby - race 7 on Golden Gate's Saturday schedule. Post time is 3:45 PM. Let's take a look into the past performances of all 14 combatants for this intriguing Road to the Kentucky Derby Grade 3 stakes.

2016 El Camino Real Derby Race Preview

Frank Conversation - Doug O'Neill trained colt has two wins and a third place finish in five career starts. Last time out was one of those wins - by 2 1/2 lengths in the minor California Derby with a field best 96 Beyer Speed Figure over many of his El Camino foes - on this track January 16. Before that was a fifth in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity December 19, a respectable third in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes November 29 at Del Mar and a maiden score at Santa Anita in October in his second career start. Frank Conversation looked terrific last time out and is certainly on the radar this week. Mario Gutierrez has been tabbed to ride the 2-1 favorite from gate 12.

Kasseopia - Graham Motion trained British bred colt had a win in two starts at home - that coming September 4 by an impressive nine lengths. He has one North American start which resulted in a respectable second place finish in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes in October at Woodbine. Kasseopia hopes to build on two good results as he chases his first graded stakes score Saturday - from gate 2 with Drayden Van Dyke in the saddle of the 7-2 second betting choice.

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Mr. Coker - promising Jerry Hollendorfer trained colt will hit the track for the third time Saturday having recorded a win and a second place finish so far - the win coming last time out by 1 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita January 18. Mr. Coker arrives with some momentum on his side and hopes to make a little noise from gate 4 Saturday in his first start beyond seven furlong. Santiago Gonzalez has the mount on the 9-2 third choice.

Margula - has placed in four of six career starts for trainer Jeff Bonde - a win, two seconds and a third place finish. He broke maiden in September on this track and has looked decent since. He enters on the heels of consecutive runner-up finishes - the minor California Derby last time out January 16 and an Allowance Optional Claiming December 26 which followed a third in the minor Gold Rush Stakes December 5 and a fourth in the minor Golden Nugget Stakes in November - all results on this track. Margula has been fairly impressive but is still in search of his first stakes score at 8-1 on the morning line. Jockey Kyle Frey will try to deliver that from post 7 Saturday.

Algenon - has placed in all eight career starts for trainer Len Kasmerski - two wins, three seconds and three third place finishes. He enters off consecutive third place finishes - the minor California Derby last time out January 16 and an Allowance Optional Claiming December 26 and two straight runner-up finishes - the minor Gold Rush Stakes December 5 and the minor Golden Nugget Stakes November 7 - all results on this track. Algenon has been knocking on the door but is still without a stakes win. Jockey Catalino Martinez hopes to change all of that from post 9 Saturday.

Mana Strike - has two wins in four career starts for trainer Frank Lucarelli. He enters off a disappointing sixth in the minor California Derby here January 16 after a nice win in the minor Gold Rush Stakes here in December, a sixth in the minor Golden State Juvenile Stakes at Del Mar October 30 and a win at first asking - on this track October 3. Mana Strike has alternated wins and sixth place finishes so far - if the pattern holds he is due for a win! Jockey Leslie Mawing will be in charge of this tough to figure out gelding from post 13.

San Dimas - Eoin Harty trained colt has a win and two third place finishes in five career starts - all MSW races. He finally broke maiden last time out - on this track January 16 after a third in a similar race also on this track December 13, a fourth, a third and a fifth respectively to start his career. San Dimas takes a huge step up in competition Saturday off a career best effort - from gate 6 with Ricardo Gonzalez guiding him.

Diplodocus - Richard Baltas trained colt has one win in four career starts with three off-the-board finishes. Last time out was a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita January 24 which followed a maiden score on that same track January 2 and a couple of unflattering results to start his career. Diplodocus steps up in so-so form and will have Russell Baze aboard from gate 10 at 15-1 odds.

Tusk - has hit the board in five of six career starts for trainer Graham Motion - one win, one second and three third place finishes. Last time out was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita January 24 after a seventh in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at Del Mar November 29 and a maiden score at Del Mar in November. Tusk will be hoping for his first stakes score Saturday when he leaves from gate 8 with Juan Hernandez guiding him.

Touched by Autism - has placed in all five career starts for trainer Marcia Stortz - a win, three seconds and a third place finish. He makes his stakes debut Saturday having finally broken maiden last time out - at Santa Anita January 7 after three straight runner-up finishes in MSW races at Golden Gate. Touched by Autism has been competitive every time out and could be a factor in his step up in competition. Frank Alvarado gets the call from post 3.

Kelly With a Twist - has seven career starts for trainer Manuel Calvario with two wins and a second place finish. He makes his stakes debut on a two race win streak - a Starter Allowance last time out January 29 and a Maiden Claiming December 31 after a second in a Maiden Claiming in November - all on this track. Kelly With a Twist has certainly been trending upward ahead of this weekend and looks ready for his step up in competition. Abel Cedillo has been tabbed to ride from the rail.

Oscar Dominguez - Irish bred Peter Gallagher trained colt makes his North American debut Saturday after four starts at home produced just one win which came last time out at Dundalk December 18. That result followed off-the-board finishes in his first three career starts. Oscar Dominguez looks for his second straight win after an unflattering start to his career with Julien Couton in the reins from post 5.

Go Long - has just two wins in nine career starts for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Last time out was one of those wins - a Claiming race at Santa Anita January 22. It followed six straight off-the-board finishes including seventh place finishes in the minor Zuma Beach Stakes in October and in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes in September. Go Long hasn't been all that impressive so far but hopes for a major breakthrough Saturday from post 11. Erick Lopez rides.

Giopress - has five career starts for trainer Reina Gonzalez with a win and two third place finishes. Last time out was an ugly ninth in his stakes debut - the minor Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita December 31. Before that was a maiden score and consecutive third place finishes in MSW races this past winter. Giopress looks for a bounce back performance and for his first stakes score Saturday from an unfortunate outside post 14 with Alejandro Gomez getting the mount.

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2016 El Camino Real Derby Entries & Odds

Race 7 on Golden Gate Fields's Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:45 PM.