2023 El Camino Real Derby Contenders & Odds

El Camino Real Derby Offers 10-4-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby Points To Top-Five Finishers

After a maiden special weight victory at two turns on turf at Canterbury Park last summer, Pennsylvania bred gelding Chase the Chaos was moved to the barn of Ed Moger Jr. in California. It didn't take long for Moger to create an opinion on the horse.

"I've liked him since the first time I saw him," said Moger Jr. "He's a big, beautiful horse. He's a really good mover and very athletic."

Following a runner up finish behind multiple stakes winner Passarando in the Gold Rush Stakes on December 3 for Team Moger, Chase the Chaos returned four weeks later and ran away from a group of first level allowance foes. That day, he sat off a wicked fast pace, blew by his company, and hit the wire seven lengths ahead of runner up finisher Happy Does while geared down at the wire.

"I wasn't surprised at all by the effort," said Moger Jr. "He got a really fast pace to run in. That helped him, but he's a good horse too."

Chase the Chaos now seeks a free Preakness berth and 10 Kentucky Derby points in the feature race of the day this Saturday: the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby for 3-year-olds at one mile and an eighth. The El Camino Real Derby is one of the most prestigious races in the Bay Area every year and has a rich history that dates back to the 1980's.

The midpack running Chase the Chaos has received favorable, quick pace scenarios in both the Gold Rush and the December 30 allowance race. This time around, the pace may not be quite as rapid. Moger Jr. feels his gelding is versatile enough to work out a good trip for himself regardless of the fractional times.

"In the mile and an eighth races, sometimes they don't send as hard as they would going a mile," said Moger Jr. "If the pace isn't super-fast, he can lay a little bit closer. I think he's got versatility. He just needs to get in a good stride and put himself where he's happy and he should be okay."

Chase the Chaos is listed at 3-1 on the morning line. Regular rider Armando Ayuso has the call for owners Bill Dory and Adam Ference. 9 races comprise the El Camino Real Derby Day card. First post is 1:15 PM. The El Camino Real Derby goes as Race 8 on the program and has a listed post time of 4:54 PM.

Moger also reported that stable star Stilleto Boy is back home at Golden Gate Fields and in great shape after a terrific third place finish in the $3,000,000 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park two weeks ago. The son of Shackleford will train at Golden Gate leading up to his next start.

"He's such a neat horse," said Moger.

DISTANCE WON'T BE A PROBLEM FOR MULTIPLE STAKES WINNER PASSARANDO

As a 2-year-old in 2022, California-bred gelding Passarando was victorious in both the Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita and the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate for trainer Steve Specht and owner/breeder Larry and Marianne Williams. So far in his young career, the son of Tamarando has won four races, with two seconds and one third place finish, and has accrued purse earnings of $240,830. Not bad.

This Saturday, Passarando competes in the top race for 3-year-olds every year in Northern California: The El Camino Real Derby. Veteran rider Frank Alvarado will be aboard for the first time. The added ground, to the mile and an eighth El Camino Real Derby distance, is no concern for Specht.

"The distance isn't the issue. The issue is Baffert," joked Specht with a laugh. "His horses are always tough. His fourth stringers are better than most barn's best horses."

The last time we saw Passarando in the afternoon, he placed third in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita traveling one mile and a sixteenth. That day, jockey Umberto Rispoli aggressively rode Passarando from the half mile pole to the finish. He completed the course almost three lengths behind race winner Thirsty John.

"Down the backstretch he was sort of buried inside and got a bunch of dirt in his face," said Specht. "Once he got in the clear he made a run. I thought he ran a good race. The horse he lost to [Thirsty John] is a pretty nice horse. He was a standout on looks in the paddock."

Specht is no stranger to the El Camino Real Derby winner's circle. In 2017, he sent out Zakaroff to a 48-1 upset in the `Derby. This year, a victory for Passarando would hardly be a surprise.

HARCYN EXPLORES THE ROUTE GAME IN THE EL CAMINO REAL DERBY

Trainer Steve Sherman was quoted as saying that his young Goldencents colt Harcyn had shown ability well before his first race. That first career run came on November 30. Sent to the lead by jockey William Antongeorgi III, Harcyn flew through the opening quarter mile in 21.87 seconds with pressure, clicked off the half mile in 44.93, and powered away from the rest of the field for a three and three-quarter length score. The race came up strong; there were four horses out of the race who returned in their next starts to win.

Two and a half months later, Harcyn returned against a small group of first level allowance foes. Sent off at low odds of 2-5, the Jerry Moss homebred went to the lead again and easily won by the same margin of victory as his maiden race.

"We were trying to get him into that allowance race for a while," said Sherman. "The race wasn't filling. That's why he had that gap between his first and second race."

Harcyn has taken a relatively unconventional path to the El Camino Real Derby. A Kentucky bred who has already broken his first level allowance condition, Harcyn has limited options. For example, second level allowance races are restricted to 4-year-olds and up. Being a 3-year-old, Harcyn obviously would not be eligible for that level. The stakes schedule in the winter does not offer a race for 3-year-olds at a distance shorter than a mile and an eighth until April.

"This is the next spot," said Sherman.

To prepare Harcyn for the mile and an eighth El Camino Real Derby distance, Sherman has changed Harcyn's training regimen.

"We've been having him go longer distances in his gallops," said Sherman. "He'll gallop two miles in the morning."

Sherman will be busy in the paddock for the El Camino Real Derby. Along with saddling Harcyn, he also tightens the girths of Gilmore and Nullarbor.

Gilmore, set at 4-1 on the morning line, comes off a decisive two-turn maiden win at the daytime racing meet at Los Alamitos in December. The son of Twirling Candy was a $250,000 sale purchase.

Stablemate Nullarbor failed to fire in his first two career races but rebounded in his most recent afternoon appearance with a strong showing against maiden sprinters. By Candy Ride, Nullarbor was sold to his connections for a whopping $500,000. Both contenders are trained by Bob Baffert and co-owned by a large partnership group that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing LLC, and Madaket Stables, all who campaigned Blackadder to win last year's El Camino Real Derby.

SCRAPPY CALIFORNIA BRED HAPPY DOES GOES FOR EL CAMINO GOLD PRIZE

3-year-old California bred Happy Does has done good work for owner/breeder Gray Farms Inc. and trainer Felix Rondan. After a pair of off-the-board finishes sprinting, the son of Southern Image tried routing and thrived, breaking his maiden on turf at Santa Rosa. Since the maiden triumph and move to two turns, Happy Does has yet to run a bad race. Heading into the class test of his life, the 2023 El Camino Real Derby, Happy Does sports two first level allowance wins on his resume.

"I really like this horse," said Rondan at his barn on Wednesday morning. "He's doing great. I think he will like the [El Camino Real Derby] distance [of 9 furlongs]."

Rondan understands a victory in the El Camino Real Derby will be no easy task. Happy Does will need to turn the tables on Passarando and Chase the Chaos, the top two finishers in the Gold Rush Stakes last December. In the Gold Rush, Happy Does settled off the speed and rallied for fourth. According to Rondan, Happy Does has improved steadily since then.

"His work [last Thursday morning] was really good," said Rondan. "He went easy in the beginning but finished strong and galloped out very strong. He is really ready to run."

A victory in the El Camino Real Derby would surely be a career highlight for Rondan.

"We've run in the El Camino a couple times with longshots," said Rondan. "This year, I think we're coming in with a good horse."

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