It’s two suburban delivery guys, Bladder and Mackinnon infiltrated the Bay Area and stole a performance on February 12th in Golden Gate FieldSigned event for 3-year-olds, the $102,700 Real El Camino Derby.
Coach Bob Baffert took home his third El Camino Real Derby trophy when Blackadder was beaten by a slow-start Mackinnon from deep to win by neck.
An official qualifying round on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the El Camino Real Derby, runs more than one-eighth of a mile across the synthetic Tapeta surface, providing winners with an automatic landing to the Preakness Stakes (G1). Last year, the status of the El Camino Real Derby became nationally prominent as the winner Rombauer used the race as a springboard to win the second crown jewel of the Triple Crown.
A field of 11 sophomores with Derby and Preakness dreams lined up for Saturday’s race, with ERJ Racing, Madaket Stables and Dave Kenney’s Mackinnon leaving the starting gate as the overwhelming 3-5 favorites. . Mackinnon, a two-timer and third-placed Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1T) on the field for coach Doug O’Neill, finished fourth to Baffert-trained Baffert. Newgrange during Sham Staking January 1 (G3).
The second choice was Blackadder, one of many talented 3-year-olds that the Hall of Famer Baffert had in his arsenal. Blackadder, in partnership with SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm, became a holding company after the landing The girls’ special weight competition on the field for the third time in his career started at Santa Anita . Park December 26th.
“Bob told me I had to earn this ride to win it because (Blackadder) can be a bit lazy,” said Edwin Maldonado, who flew from his base in Southern California to go Blackadder for the first time.
Baffert and Maldonado teamed up last week to capture the Santa Monica Stakes (G2) on February 5 with Merneith .
Blackadder was in no hurry early and was ready to race in the middle of the pack after openings were: 23.46 and: 47.77 down his back. Stepping into the spotlight as the yard slams into a bend, son of Quality Sugar Mackinnon and Mackinnon were blocked behind a wall of horses. However, while driver Abel Cedillo drove the Mackinnon wide for the track, Blackadder and Maldonado waited a few more steps in the hope of finding an opening. Appearing in broad daylight on the last eight laps, Blackadder split the horses under strong encouragement from Maldonado and stormed behind new race leader Mackinnon, defeating that foe close by.
“I’ve been watching races all day and everything is speed, speed, speed and I know this horse is running really fast,” Maldonado said. “I just stuck with my game plan of staying last and waiting on the fence, waiting, waiting, waiting and I opened the opening. I made it through and he made it today. “
Blackadder ($9.60) ran 1/8 mile in 1:50.34. Mackinnon’s best friend, Del Mo completed the Southern California trilogy upon third collection.
Bred in Kentucky by Stone Farm, Blackadder is no longer Pulp mare Chapel make him a full brother of the winner and sort the bets Gingham . The chapel is also the dam of a Spin hard a juvenile colt with a name Graphene Cossock. It was bred back to Quality Road in 2022.
Blackadder was acquired by Madaket, SF Racing and Starlight Racing for $620,000 at the 2020 Keeneland Sale in September 2020 from a Stone Farm shipment. He’s made $108,920 so far from a 2-0-1 record in four starts.
Although the pony has already earned a free ticket to Preakness May 21 at Pimlico racetrackhe was ineligible for first place out of 10 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby due to Baffert’s suspension from racing at Churchill Downs Inc. until mid-2023 for drug violations.
Videotapes: El Camino Real Derby (BT)
