A stakes winner on dirt and turf, Big Fish might try synthetic in the El Camino Real Derby

Big Fish won the California Cup Derby on the dirt at Santa Anita on Saturday, and the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on the grass in September. For his next race, Big Fish might try to add a stakes win over a synthetic surface in the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 13.

“I don’t see why he couldn’t handle it,” trainer David Hofmans said Monday.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report

Big Fish closed from seventh of eight to win the 1 1/16-mile California Cup Derby by 1 1/2 lengths.

Hofmans said the long-range goal is the $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes for statebred 3-year-ods at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on June 19.

“That would fit him perfectly and it seems to be what he wants,” Hofmans said.

The Cal Cup Derby lost its morning-line favorite on race day when The Chosen Vron was withdrawn because of illness.

:: Get Brad Free’s Betting Strategies for Saturday’s card at Santa Anita

“The morning before the race, we schooled him and he coughed a few times and he had a bit of mucus,” trainer Eric Kruljac said.

“He had no temperature. I want to give him a chance to be whatever he can be. We’ll get him over this and start looking for something. He might be special. I didn’t want to screw it up.”

The Chosen Vron has started once, winning a maiden special weight race for California-breds at 6 1/2 furlongs by 6 3/4 lengths on Dec. 27.