Conquest Typhoon Slight Choice in El Camino

The El Camino Real Derby (gr. III), one of only three North American stakes on this year's "Road to the Kentucky Derby" contested on a synthetic track, drew a good field of 10 with Conquest Typhoon installed as a lukewarm favorite for the Feb. 14 feature at Golden Gate Fields.



The Grey Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine  last October and the Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway Park March 21 are the only other North American synthetic track races that provide points toward a potential start in the 2015 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The El Camino Real Derby, run over Golden Gate's Tapeta surface at 1 1/8 miles, awards points on a 10-4-2-1 basis for the first four finishers. It is race 7 Saturday at the San Francisco Bay Area track, with a tentative post time of 3:45 p.m. PST.



Conquest Stables' Conquest Typhoon competed in the Grey over the Polytrack at Woodbine, finishing second as the 9-5 favorite after leading by two lengths in the stretch. Shipping north from Santa Anita Park for six-time Sovereign Award-winning trainer Mark Casse, the son of Stormy Atlantic   is 7-2 on the El Camino Real Derby morning line. He is a slight pick over Indianaughty (4-1), Mischief Clem (9-2), and Cross the Line (5-1).



Conquest Typhoon has not been to the post since Nov. 29, when he scored a half-length triumph in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the grass at Del Mar. Mike Smith, who rode Conquest Typhoon in a race for the first time that day, will be back aboard from post 9. The bay colt also won the Summer Stakes (Can-IIT) on the Woodbine turf prior to the Grey. He followed that with a good fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT).



Team Valor International's Indianaughty is a bit of a wildcard after just one United States start. The Indian Charlie colt scored a five-length win in a maiden special weight heat on the synthetic track at England's Lingfield last August. In his initial start for trainer Dale Romans stateside, Indianaughty won a first-level allowance/optional claiming race on the Gulfstream Park turf by a head Jan. 14.



Corey Lanerie was in the irons for the Gulfstream win and makes the trip west for Romans. They drew post 2.



Mischief Clem steps back into open company after upsetting the California Cup Derby for state-breds at 11-1 odds Jan. 24 at Santa Anita for Griffin Thoroughbred Stables. Kent Desormeaux, who won the 1997 El Camino Real Derby with Pacificbounty, will ride the son of Papa Clem   for trainer Bob Hess Jr., who teamed with Smith for a 2003 El Camino Real Derby score with Ocean Terrace. They drew the far outside post.



Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has won the El Camino Real Derby a record six times previously and he'll take three shots this year with California Derby winner Cross the Line, Cal Derby third-place finisher Stand and Salute (6-1), and recent maiden winner Harmonic, an outsider.



Juan Hernandez has the return call on Cross the Line from post 5. Owned by Live Your Dream Racing Stable and partners, the Line of David   colt opened up a surprising three-length lead in the stretch of the 1 1/16-mile Cal Derby Jan. 17 and held on well for a strong tally in his first try against winners.



Hall of Fame rider Russell Baze has won a record nine renewals of the El Camino Real Derby and he'll be trying for his sixth in tandem with Hollendorfer aboard Red Oak Stable's Stand and Salute, winner of the Gold Rush Stakes prior to the Cal Derby.



Bloom Racing Stable's Soul Driver (6-1) was second in the Cal Derby as the 2-1 favorite for trainer Jeff Mullins, experiencing some traffic issues in the stretch. Northern California mainstay Dennis Carr takes over the mount on the son of Street Boss   from Tyler Baze.



Metaboss (8-1), another son of Street Boss, enters off a maiden-breaking turf score going nine furlongs at Santa Anita Jan. 4. Irish-bred Ernest Shackleton (12-1) also comes off a win on the Santa Anita sod Jan. 23 in a one-mile allowance/optional claiming race. Maiden Donji completes the field.