Endlessly runs down Tapalo in final El Camino Real Derby

Endlessly caught a stubborn stretch leader in Tapalo to win Saturday’s $101,350 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in his 3-year-old debut and first start outside of Southern California.

Endlessly closed from seventh in a field of eight to take a prominent position in early stretch, and was fully extended to catch 7-2 Tapalo, who had his stakes debut on Saturday.

The win gave Endlessly a berth to the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18. Both Golden Gate Fields and Pimlico are owned by 1/ST Racing.

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Ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, Endlessly ($3.40) won by 1 1/4 lengths and finished 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.68. Endlessly earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

Rispoli had Endlessly well behind early pacesetter Wild Jewels, who set early fractions of 23.05 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.61 for a half-mile.

Tapalo, ridden by Evin Roman, took the lead at the end of the backstretch when Wild Jewels drifted out, and maintained an advantage around the turn.

Rispoli guided Endlessly three wide entering the stretch to reach contention before taking a late lead.

Tapalo finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher, a 7-2 chance who had his stakes debut in the El Camino Real Derby. The first three finishers are based in Southern California.

Old Triangle finished fourth, followed by Grogu, Come Out Fighting, Arctic Breeze, and Wild Jewels.

Endlessly, a colt by Oscar Performance, has won 4 of 5 starts and earned $299,200 for owners and breeder John and Jerry Amerman and trainer Michael McCarthy.

Last year, Endlessly won his first three starts, including two Grade 3 races at a mile on turf in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf and Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita, before finishing eighth of 11 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

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