Hollendorfer aims for fourth straight California Derby win

Match the top four finishers of the Gold Rush Stakes with three recent maiden winners and the runner-up from a Southern California stakes, and you have the makings of an intriguing 100th running of the California Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

The $100,000 race at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds is the main local prep for the $200,000, Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 14.

The race was first run in 1873 at the Oakland Trotting Park two years before the inaugural Kentucky Derby. It has been contested at seven different tracks.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will saddle three runners as he guns for his fourth straight victory in the race, following wins with Russian Greek (2012), Zeewat (2013), and Exit Stage Left (2014). Russell Baze, who rode Zeewat and Exit Stage Left, will ride Gold Rush winner Stand and Salute. Should he win, it would mark both his and Hollendorfer’s eighth California Derby victory.

Hollendorfer also will saddle recent maiden winners Cross the Line and Steel, who drew posts 1 and 2.

Broughton Kitten, a fast-finishing second in the Gold Rush before running fourth in the Eddie Logan on the Santa Anita turf; Sandor the Hound, who finished third; and Rye Patch, who set the pace before settling for fourth, are the other Gold Rush returnees.

Soul Driver, second in the Eddie Logan and a close fifth in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar, is entered for his synthetic-track debut. Maiden winner Midnight Destiny rounds out the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Broughton Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 74-71-74)

◗ Bred for turf, this Kitten’s Joy colt should love the extra sixteenth of a mile. He has not broken well and has given away far too much early in his past two stakes tries, where he’s been forced to rally wide. The way he’s closed, though, could make him formidable here.

Stand and Salute (Last 3 Beyers: 72-66-54)

◗ The Saint Anddan colt was second as the favorite in his debut in the Cavonnier Juvenile at Santa Rosa and has won two straight at a mile here since meeting undefeated multiple stakes winner Ocho Ocho Ocho in October at Santa Anita.

◗ He is willing to sit early and has proved game in the stretch.

Soul Driver (Last 3 Beyers: 78-73-67)

◗ Distance is always a question as young 3-year-olds stretch out, but this Street Boss colt has already won at 1 1/8 miles.

◗ He was second with some trouble that didn’t seem to cost him a placing in the Eddie Logan, but this is his first start on a synthetic surface.

◗ He likely will be sitting behind Stand and Salute and will try to outkick that rival late.