The Triple Crown trail makes its only visit to Northern California Saturday, February 11 for the El Camino Real Derby! Covering 1 ⅛ miles over the Tapeta course at Golden Gate Fields, the race offers a $100,000 purse. It also offers several rich Triple Crown rewards: it is a 10-4-3-2-1 points race on the road to the Kentucky Derby, and also offers its winner a free berth in the Preakness! This all adds up to one of the best betting horse races of the meet.
Rombauer, who won the 2021 edition of the race, used his free berth to great effect: he went on to win the 2021 Preakness as well! He continues a strong history of, in particular, Preakness success for El Camino Real winners: Tank’s Prospect (1985), Snow Chief (1986), and Tabasco Cat (1994) all won both the El Camino Real Derby and the Preakness. Tabasco Cat went on to win the Belmont, as well!
Who will add their name to this list and join the fast track to Preakness success? Keep reading to find out, and to find out the best places to bet on the El Camino Real Derby online!
El Camino Real Derby Contenders
These are the likely runners for the 2023 El Camino Real Derby including their trainers:
- Chase the Chaos (Ed Moger, Jr.)
- De La Luna (Quinn Howey)
- GIlmore (Bob Baffert)
- Happy Does (Felix Rondan)
- Harcyn (Steve Sherman)
- Mother’s Prayer (Steven Specht)
- Nullarbor (Bob Baffert)
- Passarando (Steven Specht)
- Sea Dog (O. J. Jauregui)
- Thirsty John (Peter Miller)
Closer to the race the track will release morning lines, jockeys, and post positions. However, keep in mind that those are just the track’s estimates. You are not guaranteed those prices if you bet at the racetrack, since odds fluctuate until post time. Instead, your best bet is to watch the odds and play the race at an online sportsbook, since sportsbooks offer fixed odds wagering that can help you lock in the best odds!
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|---|---|---|---|
| Muth | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Sierra Leone | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Fierceness | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Forever Young | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Catching Freedom | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Stronghold | TBA | TBA | TBA |
El Camino Real Derby Online Betting
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El Camino Real Derby Handicapping
Now that you have signed up for the best online sportsbook for you, it is time to meet the El Camino Real Derby contenders and find out out the best horses to bet!
El Camino Real Derby Favorites
Though Passarando was beaten in California-bred stakes company last out, that was on dirt. He moves back to his preferred Tapeta surface for this. In a race with so much early speed likely his versatile off-pace style should shine, and being a son of 2014 El Camino Real Derby winner Tamarando out of a Lucky Pulpit mare, nine furlongs should suit him beautifully.
Trainer Bob Baffert, who has won this race two out of the last three years, likely sends two. The better by far is Gilmore, who graduated in his first try at two turns in a maiden special at Los Alamitos. The Twirling Candy on top is an excellent synthetic-track influence, and he has proven that he can pass horses and win. Baffert’s other, Nullarbor, had to drop for a tag to graduate and will be part of the pace battle.
Thirsty John will probably be well bet off his Cal Cup Derby win on dirt for trainer Peter Miller, but there are reasons to oppose him. Miller has never won this race, and Thirsty John will also be part of the deep pace brigade.
El Camino Real Derby Value Horses
Chase the Chaos was virtually ignored in the Gold Rush, sent off at 65-1 despite running a decent third in the prep, the Golden Nugget. He franked that next out in an open allowance, winning with authority. There should be enough early pace to suit his midpack style and the Uncle Mo on bottom should help carry him the extra furlong.
Happy Does has tables to turn on Chase the Chaos from the last-out allowance. However, since then he returned at the same allowance level and beat Mother’s Prayer and Sea Dog in game fashion. A versatile off-pace sort, he should be able to carve out a trip in this race, and being by Southern Image he has a chance to see out a mile and an eighth.
Though Harcyn has a lot to prove, both stretching out to two turns and being part of the speed brigade, this lightly-raced runner has upside. He won on a contested pace on debut. Furthermore, being by Goldencents out of a Street Cry half-sister to Giacomo and Tiago, his chances to get the nine-furlong trip look strong.
Free El Camino Real Derby Picks
These are your free expert picks for the 2023 El Camino Real Derby:
- $20 to win - Passarando
- $1 exacta key - Passarando with Chase the Chaos, Gilmore
- $0.50 trifecta key - Passarando with Chase the Chaos, Gilmore, Happy Does
- $0.20 superfecta key - Passarando with Chase the Chaos, Gilmore, Happy Does, Harcyn
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