Mana Strike takes another shot at Frank Conversation in El Camino Real Derby
Trainer Frank Lucarelli has pulled out his red pen in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. Lucarelli will use his pen to draw a line through the last race of Mana Strike, one of 14 3-year-olds in the 1 1/8-mile El Camino Real Derby, run on the Tapeta main track.
The El Camino Real Derby offers 17 Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 basis.
Mana Strike finished last of six in the 1 1/16-mile California Derby here Jan. 16 after winning the one-mile Gold Rush Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths here in his previous start.
“I don’t know what happened,” Lucarelli said. “Something was obviously not right, but we’ve gone over the horse thoroughly and can find nothing. He’s worked all right since then. He’s doing great physically.”
Even drawing post 13 doesn’t concern Lucarelli or jockey Leslie Mawing, who takes over the mount on the late-running Mana Strike from Pedro Terrero.
“I’m just going to sit back and drop over anyway,” said Mawing.
The top three finishers from the California Derby are back for the El Camino Real. Frank Conversation won the California Derby by 2 1/2 lengths over Marqula with a nice stalking trip. Frank Conversation took over in the lane and was pulling away late. Marqula rallied for second, with the pacesetting Algenon third.
“He’s a nice colt, and he took a liking to the track up there,” said Frank Conversation’s trainer, the Southern California-based Doug O’Neill. “After his debut, we thought he’d like synthetic or turf because his dam is by Unusual Heat.”
Marqula “has been a work in progress,” said trainer Jeff Bonde, who won the 2015 El Camino Real Derby with Metaboss.
“He’s been slow in changing leads, but he did last time,” Bonde said. “I think the extended distance will help.”
EL CAMINO REAL DERBY (race 7)
Key contenders
Mana Strike, by Papa Clem
Last 3 Beyers: 77-77-58
◗ Mana Strike won the Gold Rush over Saturday rivals Algenon and Marqula.
◗ Mawing has ridden Mana Strike once, a sixth-place finish in the Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar in October.
Frank Conversation, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 91-73-79
◗ He’s a stalker and could be caught wide from post 12.
◗ He faced some of the best 2-year-olds in Southern California in December, finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity, won by Mor Spirit.
Marqula, by Coast Guard
Last 3 Beyers: 87-81-69
◗ He’s shown improvement in each of his three routes – a third in the Gold Rush, a second to Allaboutaction in an optional claimer, and his second in the California Derby.