Solid field expected for El Camino Real Derby

Even though the El Camino Real Derby lost its Grade 3 status and had its purse cut in half to $100,000 this year, the race retains significance as an early prep for runners on the Kentucky Derby trail.

The El Camino Real Derby, for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the Golden Gate Fields Tapeta main track, will be run Saturday. It offers 17 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, including 10 to the winner.

Golden Gate Fields racing secretary Patrick Mackey said early in the week he expected more runners on Saturday than the seven that ran in the El Camino Real Derby last year.

“With the cutting of the purse and loss of grading, the race did lose a bit of appeal,” he said. “But Derby points are part of the race still.”

:: The Road to the Kentucky Derby Player's Package

Mackey said 18 were nominated to the El Camino Real, and among those possible for the race are Choo Choo, who won the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields in January; Mugaritz, second in the California Derby; City Plan, who won the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate in December; and Epical, a Santa Anita debut winner.

Jerry Hollendorfer will try to win the El Camino Real for the seventh time when he sends out Choo Choo on Saturday.

“We think he fits this race,” Hollendorfer said.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays, and analysis

Choo Choo got a nice stalking trip in the 1 1/16-mile California Derby and finished strongly to defeat Mugaritz by 1 3/4 lengths. Choo Choo wound up preparations for the El Camino with a best-of-seven six-furlong move in 1:15.20 at Golden Gate last Sunday.

Mugaritz has a pair of bullet works since the California Derby, a best-of-58 half-mile drill in 47.80 seconds on Feb. 3 and a best-of-70 five-furlong drill in 1:00.00 last Saturday.

“He’s been working beautifully and is better than ever,” trainer Jonathan Wong said.

:: Get bonus PPs for Saturday's Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie card at Laurel Park

Epical, trained by James Cassidy, won a one-mile maiden race on the turf Jan. 28 at 19-1. He ran the mile in 1:35.17 while earning a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.

The Eoin Harty-trained City Plan upset the Gold Rush at 24-1. In his only start since then, he finished fifth of six in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.

The El Camino Real Derby has a rich history. Run at Bay Meadows until that track closed in 2008, the El Camino Real’s list of winners includes Preakness and Belmont winner Tabasco Cat (1994); Preakness winners Tank’s Prospect (1985) and Snow Chief (1986); and Kentucky Derby runners-up Casual Lies (1992) and Cavonnier (1996).