Santa Anita: Derby Gold salvages day for Baffert in Echo Eddie

ARCADIA, Calif.- The California-bred colt Derby Gold saved Saturday for trainer Bob Baffert.

After disappointments in Dubai with Game On Dude in the Dubai World Cup and The Factor in the Golden Shaheen Stakes, and a loss by Eden’s Moon in the Santa Anita Oaks earlier on the Santa Anita program, Derby Gold won the $200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for California-breds.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Derby Gold ($21.40) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.77, winning his second career start. A Bertrando colt, Derby Gold was second in his career debut on March 8, leading to deep stretch before being beaten a neck.

“The last race was like a win,” owner Arnold Zetcher said in the winner’s circle. “He got caught right at the wire. It set him up for this race.”

In the Echo Eddie Stakes, Derby Gold broke well, stalked pacesetter Pulpit’s Express, and took the lead in the final furlong before winning by three lengths over The Black, the 2-1 favorite. The Black was sixth with a quarter-mile remaining, and closed under a vigorous ride from jockey Garrett Gomez to finish second.

Real Conundrum, a 29-1 outsider, finished third in the field of 11, 1 1/4 lengths behind The Black.

Derby Gold has earned $121,200. The colt topped the 2010 Barretts October yearling sale as a $105,000 purchase.