Epical jumps straight into the fire in El Camino Real Derby

How far they’ll travel along the Triple Crown trail is open to question, but several of the 3-year-olds in Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields look like serious candidates for this spring’s Kentucky Derby preps. The 1 1/8-mile Tapeta race has drawn a field of nine, including Choo Choo and Mugaritz, the one-two finishers in the California Derby at Golden Gate last month; City Plan, winner of the Gold Rush there in December; and Southern California maiden winners Paved, Blended Citizen, and Calexman.

But the horse they may all have to beat also is the least experienced – Epical, who posted a $40 upset on the turf Jan. 28 at Santa Anita in his only start.

Epical was up on the pace for most of the one-mile race and repelled bids from two rivals in the stretch to win by a neck over Fibonacci. Two other horses involved in the early pace ended up eighth and ninth in the field of 10. Epical ran the mile in 1:35.17 and earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.

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The victory certainly impressed his trainer, James Cassidy.

“You can win any race,” said Cassidy, “but the way he did it made it impressive. I love the way he fought.

“We always knew the colt could run and wanted a route of ground. That’s why we never sprinted him.”

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Cassidy knows going from a maiden race to a $100,000 stakes is unusual, but he calls the race “a reasonable spot” for Epical, who is owned by D P Racing. Tiago Pereira rode Epical in his debut and will be aboard Saturday.

“I’m happy to have Tiago on him again because that wasn’t the easiest trip,” Cassidy said.

Choo Choo and Mugaritz have both shown steady improvement.

After a lackluster debut on dirt at Los Alamitos, Choo Choo made his next four starts on turf, including a third-place finish in the Eddie Logan in December at Santa Anita. Choo Choo stalked the pace in the 1 1/16-mile California Derby and held off a rallying Mugaritz to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The race was his first on a synthetic surface.

Choo Choo’s trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, is going for his seventh win in the El Camino Real Derby.

Mugaritz ran for a tag in his four starts before the California Derby, and both his victories came going wire to wire. He rated a few lengths back and finished well in the California Derby. He’s had two bullet works since that race.

“He working beautifully and doing better every day,” trainer Jonathan Wong said. “I’m just happy he’s maturing at the perfect time.”

The El Camino Real Derby offers 17 Kentucky Derby points on a 10-4-2-1 scale. It is carded as race 7, with a post time of 6:45 Pacific.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Epical, by Uncle Mo

Beyer: 75

◗ Cassidy has strong numbers over the last 13 months with horses returning off a win, but is 0 for 5 with horses going from turf to synthetic.

Choo Choo, by English Channel

Last 3 Beyers: 78-81-80

◗ He had three works at Golden Gate, including a six-furlong bullet, since his California Derby win.

◗ Choo Choo and Del Mar maiden winner Calexman are the only horses in the field nominated to the Triple Crown.