Chase the Chaos possible for Jeff Ruby or Santa Anita Derby

Chase the Chaos made trainer Ed Moger Jr. look like a sharp prognosticator when the gelding won his 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s $101,350 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

In the days before the race, Moger described Chase the Chaos as “a really talented horse” who had shown improvement in day-to-day training through January, a fairly strong statement from the normally reserved trainer.

Chase the Chaos ($10.40) proved Moger correct when he closed from sixth in a field of eight to win his first stakes in the El Camino Real Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over 9-5 favorite Gilmore.

“It’s not very often I’m right,” Moger said with a laugh on Sunday.

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The win gave Chase the Chaos a berth in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 20. Golden Gate Fields and Pimlico are both owned by 1/St Racing.

The next goal for Chase the Chaos is a Kentucky Derby prep with races such as the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park on March 25 and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9 under consideration.

The races are run at 1 1/8 miles with similar purses. The Ruby, named for a restaurant chain, is worth $700,000, while the Santa Anita Derby is worth $750,000. Both races offer 100, 40, 30, 20 and 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby to the first five finishers.

Chase the Chaos earned 10 qualifying points for his win in the El Camino Real Derby. In the last two years, horses needed at least 21 (2022) or 10 (2021) points to gain a spot among the 20 starters in the Kentucky Derby.

“We need to get some points somewhere,” Moger said.

On Sunday, Moger had not changed his outlook regarding Chase the Chaos. Even though the El Camino Real Derby is one of the less significant preps to the Triple Crown, Moger thinks the Chase the Chaos belongs in the national discussion.

“I think he’s that kind of horse,” he said. “I’ve been thinking he’s a Derby horse.”

Despite the confidence, Chase the Chaos was not nominated to the Triple Crown for $600 last month at the initial nomination phase. A second nomination phase is available for $6,000 by March 27.

“I knew there was another nomination,” Moger said.

Chase the Chaos, who races for Bill Dory and Adam Ference, has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $123,000.

By the Medaglia d’Oro stallion Astern, Chase the Chaos has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $123,000. Chase the Chaos was second and first in his first two starts in maiden races at Canterbury Park for trainer Robertino Diodoro in late summer before joining Moger’s stable in the fall.

Chase the Chaos was third in the Golden Nugget Stakes at six furlongs and second to Passarando in the Gold Rush Stakes at a mile in his first two starts at Golden Gate Fields. Chase the Chaos ended his 2-year-old season with a win by 7 1/2 lengths in an allowance race at a mile on Dec. 30.

In the El Camino Real Derby, Chase the Chaos raced on the rail under jockey Armando Ayuso on the backstretch. Ayuso moved Chase the Chaos into contention with a three-wide move in early stretch and caught stretch leader Harcyn in the final sixteenth.

“When he got to the outside I was pretty confident he would run well,” Moger said. “He’s a talented horse and it doesn’t seem like he got tired.”

Moger, 66, has been a fixture in California for decades, particularly on the northern circuit. He had his first starter in 1976, but has never had a runner in the Kentucky Derby.

Moger knows Chase the Chaos will need to accomplish more this spring to justify a start in the famous race.

“I’m not used to running a horse in the Kentucky Derby,” Moger said. “The next race will really tell us a lot.”

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