Golden Gate Fields: Exit Stage Left continues to improve

Exit Stage Left made it three stakes victories in three career starts with a half-length win in the 1 1/16-mile California Derby last Saturday and has shown continued improvement. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Russell Baze stressed the gameness and competitiveness of the Noonmark colt.

“He’s a tough, little dude,” said Baze, who knows the colt well and was comfortable letting him run on the front end in the California Derby.

While Baze and Hollendorfer worked on getting the colt to relax in the six weeks following his Gold Rush Stakes victory, Exit Stage Left found himself on the lead in the California Derby as Harbaugh didn’t go to the lead as expected.

Baze said that although Exit Stage Left was “going a pretty good lick for here,” he didn’t want to fight him because the colt seemed to be relaxed. Despite fast fractions, Exit Stage Left had plenty left in the lane.

“He kicked real good when I asked him,” Baze said. “When that other horse [runner-up and favorite Enterprising] came up, he laid his body down even harder.”

Enterprising’s jockey, Aaron Gryder, said he was impressed with the toughness of both his mount and Exit Stage Left in the lane.

Baze said he knows Exit Stage Left will face tougher competition Feb. 15 in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby, but he’s confident, noting that even with all his talent, Exit Stage Left is “still a work in progress.”

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Infosec, who finished third in the California Derby, ran well, as did fourth-place Puppy Manners, a stablemate of the winner who also will return in the El Camino Real Derby, according to Hollendorfer.

◗ Baze, Golden Gate’s leading rider, will miss this weekend’s racing while serving a three-day suspension for causing interference in the stretch aboard Suances Candy in the fifth race Jan. 12.