El Camino Real Derby is a Gr 3 flat
horserace run on dirt at Bay Meadows Racetrack in San Mateo, California.
It's run over a course of 1 1/16th miles for American thoroughbreds,
which is open to three-year-old horses, with a taking of $200,000.
First run in 1982, the El Camino Real Derby is known as Northern
California's foremost Kentucky Derby prep. From 2001 through to 2004,
the stake was hosted by Golden Gate Fields racetrack, and it will once
again return there for the February 14, 2009 race.
To date, the speed record still stands with Ruhlman which set a time of
1:39.40 in 1988. He was ridden by Pat Day and trained by Robert J.
Frankel.
Canadian born Russell Baze has proven that he is a top jockey, winning
the title at El Camino in 1984, 1998, and then a hat-trick in 2005, 2006
and 2007.
In 1998, Jerry Hollendorfer (ranked as the fourth winnings trainer in
North American thoroughbred racing history) one his first title at El
Camino. He went on to claim the title in 2002, 2006 and 2007. He returns
in 2009 with the hot favorite Chocolate Candy. |
