Crushed It upsets Robert Dupret Derby

Crushed It, the longest shot in the field, got a dream trip behind a fast pace and pulled clear in the stretch to win the $53,255 Robert Dupret Derby at the Sonoma County Fair on Saturday.

Crushed It ($24.40), the only member of the field of six 3-year-olds nominated to this spring’s Triple Crown, sat in fourth behind Mister Wonka’s brisk early fractions of 22.01 seconds, 46.06, and 1:10.57 in the 1 1/16-mile turf race.

Ridden patiently by Alejandro Gomez, Crushed It led the second flight of runners as Reno Rebel and Sea Preacher were close enough to keep pressure on pacesetting Mister Wonka.

Gomez began moved up on the second turn and angled out to the three-path for clear sailing through the stretch. He quickly drew even with Reno Rebel , who had just headed the tiring Mister Wonka and pulled away, withstanding a brief challenge by Terrys Tom Cat, who wound up second, 1 1/4 lengths behind Crushed It, who completed the distance in 1:42.56. Reno Rebel was another 1 1/4 lengths back.

“This horse fits well in Northern California,” said winning trainer John Martin, who was sent the colt in March by Doug O’Neill. “This was a good spot for him. I thought he had a chance.

“The guys who had ridden him before [Russell Baze and Frank Alvarado] were committed to others, but Alejandro is a good jockey and wins a lot for me .”

Gomez is now 6 for 17 riding for Martin.

Crushed It earned $32,000 for Bada Beng Racing LLC with his third career win in nine starts.