California Derby could send Chase the Chaos to Preakness
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Any hope for a start in the Kentucky Derby on May 6 ended for Chase the Chaos with a last-place finish in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 4.
An appearance in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 20 remains a possibility, pending the outcome of Saturday’s $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
Chase the Chaos earned a berth in the Preakness with a win in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in February. Golden Gate Fields and Pimilco are owned by 1/ST Racing.
To advance to the Preakness Stakes, Chase the Chaos needs a sharp performance in the California Derby, run at 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic main track. In recent weeks, trainer Ed Moger Jr. has seen sufficient workouts from Chase the Chaos to be optimistic the gelding can rebound from the San Felipe.
On April 15, Chase the Chaos worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds in company with Tarantino, Moger’s well-regarded hope for Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields.
“He had no trouble keeping up with him,” Moger said.
The comprehensive loss in the San Felipe Stakes on dirt surprised Moger.
“He didn’t run like he was supposed to, Moger said. “Maybe he likes the synthetic track more than others.
“There were no real excuses. I thought he’d at least try hard down the lane.”
The Grade 1 Preakness Stakes would be a fierce test for Chase the Chaos, but Moger and owners Bill Dory and Adam Ference are strongly considering sending him there.
“If he’s healthy like he is right now, he’ll go just for the experience,” Moger said.
The California Derby drew a field of nine. Chase the Chaos is one of two stakes winners in the field along with Passarando, who won stakes at Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields last fall and was fourth in the El Camino Real Derby, his most recent start.
The California Derby will be a class test for the unbeaten Prince Abu Dhabi, who has won three times. Trained by Blaine Wright, Prince Abu Dhabi won an allowance race at a mile on March 31 in his first start around two turns.
“He has fight in him,” Wright said. “Hopefully, he can make the jump to the next level.”
Harcyn was third in the El Camino Real Derby and third behind Prince Abu Dhabi on March 31. For the California Derby, Harcyn will be fitted with blinkers for the first time with the intent of sending the colt to the front.
“I think his best races are when he’s up on the lead,” trainer Steve Sherman said. “We want to get him a little focused.”
Harcyn won from the front sprinting in his first two races, and raced as a stalker in his last two starts.
“I’ve probably been trying to do things that he doesn’t really like that much,” Sherman said.
The California Derby is the 10th race on a 12-race program that includes six stakes. In addition to the San Francisco Mile, there are four $75,000 stakes.
The biggest stakes field of the day is in the Golden Poppy for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf, which drew 10. Australia Mia, a seven-time stakes winner in Chile in 2021 and 2022, will be well supported despite a last-place finish in the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita in March. Nadette, a stakes winner in France in 2022, poses a leading threat.
Top Harbor, the game winner of an allowance race at six furlongs on April 1, tries to win his first stakes since November in the Lost in the Fog at six furlongs. Lovesick Blues, who won a starter allowance at Santa Anita on April 8 despite a troubled start, can be a factor from off the pace.
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Southern California-based jockey Umberto Rispoli rides Australia Mia and Lovesick Blues, and has a strong book of mounts through the program. In the Camilla Urso Stakes at five furlongs on turf for fillies and mares, Rispoli rides Alice Marble, a four-time stakes winner in Southern California.
The Camilla Urso Stakes includes Xmas Surprise, who was second in the Daisycutter Handicap for fillies and mares at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar last summer.
Only five 3-year-old fillies start in the California Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, with all the runners seeking their first stakes win. Rispoli rides Lily Poo, who was fifth in an allowance race at Santa Anita in her 3-year-old debut on March 27.
The three-time winner Smiling Lady is expected to set the pace from an inside post.
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