Fifth last out in the Nov. 6 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), John and Diane Fradkin's grade 1-placed Rombauer heads a field of nine for the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby Feb. 13 at Golden Gate Fields.
Although ungraded, the 1 1/8-mile event over Tapeta is a qualifying race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four finishers. The race also offers a free Preakness Stakes (G1) berth to the winner, provided that horse is a Triple Crown nominee. Post time is 7:15 p.m. ET. Six horses are shipping up from Southern California to compete in the El Camino Real Derby.
Rombauer broke his maiden on turf in July at Del Mar and was sixth in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes in September. Trainer Michael McCarthy then moved him to dirt, and the Twirling Candy colt ran second by just three-quarters of a length to Get Her Number in the Sept. 26 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
In the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, Rombauer raced far back early, improved position around the far turn, and stayed on well to finish fifth. His last published work in preparation for Saturday's start was a five-furlong bullet in :59 2/5 Feb. 6 at Santa Anita, fastest of 28 at the distance on the day. He drew post 9 and will have Kyle Frey aboard.
McCarthy won the 2018 El Camino Real Derby with the filly Paved, and Javanica seeks to become just the second filly in the race's 40-year history to take home the victory. The Godolphin homebred broke her maiden last September at Arlington International Racecourse and comes in off three straight runner-up finishes in stakes company for trainer Eoin Harty, most recently in the Dec. 31 Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita. A daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of grade 2 winner Shuruq, Javanica drew post 7. Veteran rider Frank Alvarado has the call.
Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella saddles Petruchio, a son of Into Mischief who broke his maiden on turf two starts back, then was third in the Dec. 19 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). John Shirreffs will be represented by Waspirant, a Union Rags colt who was fourth in the Jan. 2 Sham Stakes (G3) and fourth in the American Pharoah Stakes last year. Waspirant is out of the grade 1-winning Storm Cat mare Life Is Sweet.
Doug O'Neill won the 2016 El Camino Real Derby with Frank Conversation, and five years later campaigns the California-bred Play Chicken. Winner of the King Glorious Stakes for state-breds at Los Alamitos in December, Play Chicken looks to rebound after an off-the-board finish in the Jan. 16 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita.
Positivity rounds out the list of Southern California contenders for trainer Paddy Gallagher. His best run to date came in the summer as a 2-year-old, when he won the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar while sprinting on dirt. He also ran second in his next start, the Golden State Juvenile. Both aforementioned races came against California-breds.
Three local contenders look to play spoiler for the heavy hitters from Southern California. It's My House, trained by Jamey Thomas, broke his maiden sprinting two weeks ago and stretches out in distance. Tesoro, who unofficially hit the wire first in his career debut, was disqualified for interference with another rival and enters the El Camino Real Derby still a maiden. Recent starter allowance winner Govenor's Party completes the trio of local talent and is expected to go off at a big price for trainer Dan Franko.
Golden Gate Fields, Saturday, February 13, 2021, Race 8Entries: El Camino Real Derby
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Positivity (CA) Julien Couton 122 Patrick Gallagher 12/1 2 2Waspirant (KY) Assael Espinoza 122 John A. Shirreffs 8/1 3 3Tesoro (KY) Catalino Martinez 122 O. J. Jauregui 20/1 4 4It's My House (FL) William Antongeorgi III 122 Jamey R. Thomas 20/1 5 5Petruchio (KY) Irving Orozco 122 Richard E. Mandella 3/1 6 6Play Chicken (CA) Evin A. Roman 122 Doug F. O'Neill 12/1 7 7Javanica (KY) Frank T. Alvarado 117 Eoin G. Harty 5/2 8 8Govenor's Party (CA) Cristobal Herrera 122 Daniel Franko 50/1 9 9Rombauer (KY) Kyle Frey 122 Michael W. McCarthy 8/5
