Baffert Starts Pair in Bid for El Camino Real Repeat

A field of eight 3-year-olds has been assembled for the 2023 edition of the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta main track at Golden Gate Fields. The winner of the Feb. 11 race receives a free berth into the 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1) for Triple Crown nominees, and eligible participants earn points on a 10-4-3-2-1 scale toward the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Trainer Bob Baffert, whose horses are ineligible for Derby points owing to a suspension given to him by Churchill Downs Inc. for medication violations, won the 2022 El Camino Real Derby with Blackadder . This year, the Hall of Fame conditioner sends out a pair of contenders in Gilmore  and Nullarbor , both last-out maiden winners on dirt in Southern California for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. Gilmore is a $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by Twirling Candy  , and Nullarbor, a son of Candy Ride  , was a $500,000 buy from the same sale in 2021. Jose Valdivia Jr. rides Gilmore while Assael Espinoza has the call aboard Nullarbor. 

They are the only two current Triple Crown nominees in the El Camino Real Derby, though late nominees are accepted to the historic three-race series.

Prominent owner/breeders Larry and Marianne Williams campaign multiple stakes-winning gelding Passarando . As a 2-year-old last fall, the son of Tamarando   was victorious in the Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita Park and in the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate. In his most recent afternoon appearance, Passarando finished third in the California Cup Derby. Veteran rider Frank Alvarado will be in the saddle for the first time for trainer Steve Specht. 

Chase the Chaos  has only improved since moving to the Tapeta and joining trainer Ed Moger Jr.'s barn last fall. The Pennsylvania-bred by Astern  finished as the runner-up behind Passarando in the Gold Rush Stakes and ended 2022 to score a smashing 7 1/2-length runaway victory against first-level allowance optional claiming foes. Regular rider Armando Ayuso retains the mount for owners Bill Dory and Adam Ference.

Harcyn  makes his route debut for trainer Steve Sherman and owner/breeder Jerry Moss after a pair of convincing sprint victories in as many starts. In each race, Harcyn went to the lead and hit the wire 3 3/4 lengths ahead of the runner-up finisher. Bay Area mainstay William Antongeorgi III has been atop the son of Goldencents   in both lifetime starts and has the call in the El Camino Real Derby.  

Happy Does  is another legit contender. Bred by owners Gray Farms, the dark bay Southern Image  colt has picked up a pair of first-level allowance optional claiming victories in recent starts and bumps up in class for his second try against stakes competition. Trainer Felix Rondan and jockey Santos Rivera team up again for his eighth start. 

Sea Dog  finished third behind Happy Does, only beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in a Jan. 21 allowance optional claiming race and faces the toughest field of his career.

In Honor of Autism  makes his route debut after a pair of sprint wins against starter allowance company and rounds out the field.  

The El Camino Real Derby goes as the eighth race on Saturday's nine-race program, with post time at approximately 4:54 p.m. PT.   

Entries: El Camino Real Derby

Golden Gate Fields, Saturday, February 11, 2023, Race 8

• STK
• 1 1/8m
• All Weather Track
• $100,000
• 3 yo
• 4:54 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Gilmore (KY)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	122	Bob Baffert	4/1
2	2Chase the Chaos (PA)	Armando Ayuso	122	Ed Moger, Jr.	3/1
3	3Happy Does (CA)	Santos Rivera	122	Felix Rondan	10/1
4	4Passarando (CA)	Frank T. Alvarado	122	Steven Specht	2/1
5	5Harcyn (KY)	William Antongeorgi III	122	Steve M. Sherman	5/1
6	6In Honor of Autism (KY)	Evin A. Roman	122	Jonathan Wong	12/1
7	7Sea Dog (KY)	Francisco Monroy	122	O. J. Jauregui	20/1
8	8Nullarbor (KY)	Assael Espinoza	122	Bob Baffert	6/1