El Camino Real Derby among highlights of Golden Gate winter-spring meet

Golden Gate Fields vice president and general manager David Duggan had one goal this year – to make the track more relevant in the world of horse racing. An increase in handle during 2018 – particularly from out of state – fulfilled that objective, and Duggan is hoping Golden Gate Fields takes another step in the right direction during the 2018-19 winter-spring meet, which opens Wednesday.

“We’ve got great outreach now,” Duggan said. “We’ve reversed the profile of the track.”

The Golden Gate Fields winter-spring meet, which runs through June 9, has introduced several changes to the stakes schedule, including a six-stakes card April 27. But the El Camino Real Derby remains the Albany, Calif., track’s marquee race for 3-year-olds. Despite losing its Grade 3 status last year, the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby remains an important prep for the Triple Crown races, with the winner earning 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby and a berth in the Preakness Stakes.

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The El Camino Real Derby has produced four Preakness winners – Gate Dancer (1984), Tank’s Prospect (1985), Snow Chief (1986), and Tabasco Cat (1994).

Eight stakes will be run the weekend of April 27-28. The Grade 3, $250,000 San Francisco Mile highlights the six stakes on April 27. The other stakes that day are the $100,000 California Derby, which previously was a prep for the El Camino Real Derby, plus four $75,000 stakes – the Golden Poppy, Camilla Urso, California Oaks, and Lost in the Fog.

Two $100,000 turf races for 3-year-old California-breds will be held April 28 – the Silky Sullivan and the Campanile for fillies.

There is racing most Thursdays-Sundays at the meet, with the usual first post time of 12:45 p.m. Pacific. This Thursday will be dark after Wednesday’s opening day, and then there will be five straight days of racing from Dec. 28-Jan. 1.

Trainer Jonathan Wong has won the training title at the last three Golden Gate meets and will be favored to make it four in a row at the winter-spring meet. His main competition figures to come from Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, Tim McCanna, Steve Miyadi, Steve Specht, John Martin, and Blaine Wright.

William Antongeorgi III earned his first riding title at the recent fall meeting, edging Abel Cedillo 36-35, and he will be looking for a repeat at the winter-spring meet.

Free racing calendars will be given out Saturday, Dec. 28, and Sunday Dollar Days will include $1 parking, general admission, programs, hot dogs, beer, and mimosas.