Last during the first half-mile but getting the ground-saving trip trainer Michael McCarthy wanted, Rombauer ($4.40) rallied gamely through the stretch and edged filly Javanica by a neck to win the 40th running of the $101,350 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. “The key was trying to save ground,” said winning jockey Kyle Frey, who followed McCarthy's instructions to the letter as he won the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:51.64. “Kyle did a good job to get to the fence,” said McCarthy, who had seen the 3-year-old Twirling Candy colt draw the outside post in the field of eight. “(Rombauer) got into a good rhythm around the three-eighths pole and turned in a super effort.” It's My House, who was coming off a maiden sprint win, set the pace and led to the stretch before tiring and finishing fourth. :: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more. Meanwhile Javanica was content to sit in midpack, edging her way up and was only a head behind It's My House after a 1:38.56 mile, but she had the momentum and looked good as she smoothly went into the lead. Rombauer had only one rival beat after the opening three quarters, but Frey moved him four wide into the clear as he started to make his move. “I felt pretty confident I had the horse to get there,” he said. “The trouble was the horse inside me (119-to-1 Governor's Party, who finished third four lengths behind Javanica) was trying to move out, too, and kept drifting me wide. “As soon as he straightened up, I knew it was over.” Rombauer, who picked up 10 Kentucky Derby points and free entry into the Preakness with the victory, was scheduled to run in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis on January 30 at Santa Anita before owner-breeders John and Diane Fradkin suggested running in the El Camino, which was an eighth of a mile longer but seemed an easier spot. “My preference was running out of our barn (in the Lewis), but you always look to give them an easier spot in their comeback, and this was not as tough as the Lewis.” Rombauer had a solid five-furlong work the day after the Lewis and a five-furlong bullet on February 6 to sharpen up for the El Camino. The victory was worth $60,000. Rombauer, who ran second in last year's Grade 1 American Pharoah, now has career earnings of $210,500 with two wins in five starts.