Anothertwistafate punches Preakness ticket with El Camino Real win

ALBANY, Calif. - Anothertwistafate ($4.40) was an impressive seven-length winner of the $101,800 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, earning an invitation to the Preakness in the process.

The Scat Daddy colt won so convincingly that his effusive owner Peter Redekop wasn't thinking of the second jewel in the Triple Crown.

"We wanted the bigger race," he said smiling at his colt's strong performance, before quickly adding, "The Preakness is nice."

It was hard to single out the most impressive aspect of the victory.

Was it the 23.39 in the opening quarter? Or the way he relaxed as he slowed the race down with a 25.30 second quarter for a 49.09 half-mile?

Or was it the 12.08 final eighth as he sprinted away from second-choice Kingly, who had tracked him all the way? The winning time was 1:50.38.

Anothertwistafate had scored two straight wire-to-wire victories at Golden Gate Fields, and trainer Blaine Wright thought his colt might wind up stalking in the El Camino Real Derby.

But he broke on top and beat Kingly to the clubhouse turn during the fast opening quarter.

Jockey Juan Hernandez was prepared to assume a stalking role, but he knew the colt's natural speed could be used to advantage.

"He broke clean, and they let me go," Hernandez said.

Though the opening quarter was fast, Hernandez was not concerned, and he liked the way the colt settled down and relaxed on the lead.

"He broke clear, and I held him a little. The horse was comfortable in front," he said as he held an early lead by a head and was ahead by one at the half-mile pole.

He gave Anothertwistafate a confident ride, and that confidence was repaid when the real running began.

"When it was time to go, he changed leads all on his own," Hernandez said.

"At the quarter pole, when he changed leads, he exploded."

Leading by one-half length at the quarter pole, Anothertwistafate was in front by six by the eighth pole and coasted home seven in front of Kingly.

More Ice was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third with locally based Angelo's Prince, who made a nice move into the lane, settling for fourth.

"He was in perfect position, but he was a little green," said Kingly jockey Evin Roman. "When I made the move, he was good, but the other horse, he's a great horse."

"His last three weeks have been fabulous," said Wright of his colt's preparations. "I'm going to let the horse do the talking. I know we can keep him fit."

Anothertwistafate earned 10 points for the Kentucky Derby with the victory, but he'll need more to run in that race.

Redekop says realistically, "We're going to have to step up," although it's too early to make plans for the colt's next start.

Would he consider Southern California or possibly Turfway Park for the Jeff Ruby?

Redekop smiled and said, "I don't like Santa Anita because of (Bob) Baffert," even though he had just defeated the Baffert-trained Kingly.

"There are a lot of races, and we have two to go in March and April if we stay healthy," he said.

Anothertwistafate, a $360,000 purchase, earned $60,000 for his third straight victory and now has earned $94,545 with three wins in four starts.