El Camino Real Derby big test for Kingly

From an historical perspective, it is appropriate that Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields awards its winner a berth in the Preakness Stakes. Three consecutive Preakness winners – Gate Dancer (1984), Tank’s Prospect (1985), and Snow Chief (1986) – ran in the El Camino Real Derby, and Tabasco Cat scored an El Camino-Preakness double in 1994.

Trainer Bob Baffert wouldn’t mind if Kingly joined that list of names, although the prospect of a Preakness berth is far from the main reason he entered the colt in the 1 1/8-mile El Camino Real Derby. Baffert said he wants to see how Kingly handles the Golden Gate Tapeta synthetic surface with the thought of sending him next to Turfway Park and its synthetic surface for the Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 9.

Despite having lost its Grade 3 status last year, the El Camino Real attracted 13 3-year-olds, with the winner to receive 10 Kentucky Derby points.

Kingly is down the list of Baffert’s 3-year-old prospects – topped by juvenile champion Game Winner, unbeaten Grade 1 winner Improbable, and two-time Grade 3 winner Mucho Gusto – but he hasn’t done much wrong. Kingly has started twice, winning a maiden sprint at Del Mar in December at first asking, then running second in a one-mile optional claimer over a sloppy track on Jan. 31 at Santa Anita.

The highest Beyer Speed Figure in the field belongs to Anothertwistafate, who earned an 84 in his maiden victory at Golden Gate in December. That race was at 1 1/16 miles, and he came back to win a one-mile optional claimer here Jan. 4.

King of Speed is the only stakes winner in the field, having won the Del Mar Juvenile Turf in September and the Zuma Beach at Santa Anita in October. Both of those races came on turf, and King of Speed has been far less effective on dirt. The El Camino Real will be the first start on a synthetic surface for King of Speed, who is trained by Jeff Bonde.

KEY CONTENDERS

Kingly, by Tapit

Beyers: 80-79

◗ As a sibling to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day and multiple Grade 2 route winner Mohaymen, Kingly has the pedigree to run long.

◗ He may have enough speed to lead, but he’s also shown a willingness to stalk the pace.

◗ Kingly also was entered for the Risen Star Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds, but he drew an outside post, prompting Baffert to keep him in California.

Anothertwistafate, by Scat Daddy

Beyers: 77-84-50

◗ He may have to go early from post 4 with potential pace rivals The Creep, Weekly Call, Kingly, and Knight’s Cross to his outside.

◗ Jockey Juan Hernandez is familiar with him, having ridden him in all three of his starts.

King of Speed, by Jimmy Creed

Last 3 Beyers: 68-57-83

◗ His sire won two races and finished third in a Grade 1 on synthetic.

Mayor Cobb, by New Year’s Day

Last 3 Beyers: 64-54-70

◗ The good: He has never finished worse than third in six starts; he closed for third in the one-mile Gold Rush on the Tapeta here in December; he comes off a starter-allowance win.

◗ The bad: He starts from post 13.