Listed, $102,700 El Camino Real Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Golden Gate Fields, Feb. 12, 2022 (0 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: Blackadder, by Quality Road Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Edwin Maldonado Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Jay Schoenfarber Beyer Speed Figure: 82 BLACKADDER seemingly is fairly far down the depth chart among Baffert’s 3-year-olds, so this was a smart spot in which to race him, especially since it offered a “Win and You’re In” to the Preakness Stakes on May 21 at Pimlico. Last year, Rombauer parlayed a win in the El Camino Real Derby to a victory in the Preakness. Blackadder came into this race with one win in three starts, that victory an off-the-turf maiden race that kicked off Santa Anita’s winter meeting. His career-best Beyer entering this race was a 71. He took to the synthetic, and certainly appears to be improving, but no one exiting this race – even if eligible for the Derby – looks like a serious Derby contender. For Blackadder to run in the Derby, he’d have to start earning points by being moved to another trainer. That seems an unlikely scenario, especially considering how much improvement he’d need to make the Derby in the next few months. Might as well stay with Baffert and aim for the Preakness. In this race, Blackadder was wrangled back the first quarter-mile and went into the first turn mid-pack while in the two path. Though keen early in a bit of traffic, he settled well once in the clear, then saved ground on the far turn while awaiting a seam. He had to come around two tiring rivals at the top of the stretch, split foes, showed good acceleration, and got up in the final strides. Maldonado rode him like it was a turf race – saving ground, making one run – and was rewarded. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more MACKINNON, who finished second, was squeezed between STORMY SAMURAI and UNRAPTURED at the start and lost position, but advanced into and around the first turn to save ground in fifth. He moved closer heading to the far turn, but had nowhere to go, with a tiring leader in front of him, causing his rider to look to angle out. He maneuvered to the four path coming off the bend as Blackadder took the place he vacated, surged to the front at midstretch, and though he drew away from the rest of the field he couldn’t hold safe Blackadder. He’s been going without a break since debuting last May – including a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – so a freshening now and a summer grass campaign seems like the right move for a two-time stakes winner on turf. DEL MO, who was third, raced toward the rear of the field while three to four paths wide around the first turn. He never could drop in down the backstretch, forcing him to commence a rally on the far turn four paths wide. He was fanned even wider into the lane, was right on the hip of Mackinnon entering the stretch, and though no match for the top two he was clearly best of the rest. He has made consistent, steady progress since moving to synthetic. The Jeff Ruby Steaks on April 2 at Turfway seems an obvious target next. IL BELLATOR, who was fourth, had enough speed from his wide draw to take up a stalking position in second, behind longshot leader NUESTRO ENGREIDO, around the first turn. He conceded second to Stormy Samurai down the backstretch, attacked from the three path on the far turn while going so well his rider sneaked a peak back three furlongs out (editor’s note: they’re there), led narrowly into the lane with his rider again sneaking a peak (editor’s note: still there, only closer now), and weakened through the final furlong. C’MON MAN, who was fifth, lacked speed and trailed early while three to four paths wide around the first turn. He made mild progress while initially in the three path on the far turn, cut the corner to save a bit of ground a quarter-mile out, but lacked any appreciable kick. BOISE, who finished sixth, was throwing his head about while mid-pack into the first turn in the three path. He lost some ground early on the backstretch, inched closer heading to the far turn, was about three to four paths wide on the far turn, came into the lane in the four path, but pretty much went one-paced the whole journey. The official chart says he “sat just off of the pace through the second turn.” That is not accurate. Nuestro Engreido, who was seventh, was hustled from the gate to make the lead, led to the far turn, came under a heavy ride midway on the far turn to try and hold his position, bravely remained in front to upper stretch, then tired. He had never raced beyond six furlongs in 10 prior tries, so this was a long way to go. Back to sprints. Unraptured, who was eighth, bumped with Mackinnon at the start, was between rivals while forwardly placed into the first turn, then raced in the two path, outside Mackinnon, around the first turn. He had to be used early on the far turn to try and hold his position, was floated out to the five path by Mackinnon while tiring a quarter-mile out, and continued to retreat. :: Win big at Santa Anita: Get DRF Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and Betting Strategies.  Stormy Samurai, who was ninth, bumped with Mackinnon leaving the gate but used his inside draw to move to a forward position while saving ground, though he was throwing his head about into the first turn. He pulled his way into second entering the backside, behind Nuestro Engreido, was sent along three furlongs out to try and hold his position between Nuestro Engreido and a rallying Il Bellator, began to weaken, emptied out in upper stretch, and was pretty much eased the final sixteenth. MEETMEATTHECLUB, who was 10th, was checked while in traffic shortly after the start and was shuffled back toward the rear of the field, was badly outrun three furlongs out and fell back to last, took awhile to switch to his correct lead after entering the stretch, completely overmatched. DR PESCADO, who finished last of 11, raced toward the rear of the field while saving ground around the first turn, saved ground the whole way, was always well back, always outrun.