Saturday's 8th race (4:40pm PST) at Golden Gate Fields is the $200k G3 El Camino Real Derby for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles. A field of 9 is scheduled to go postward.
The Morning Line favorite is #3 - Manando (9-5) one of two Bob Baffert runners, finished 3rd in the G3 Sham Stakes
behind Goldencents,
a top Derby contender. His main rival is #5 - Zeewat
(5-2) who goes for a GG stakes race natural hat trick having previously won the
Cal Derby and Gold Rush Stakes here. There is plenty of early speed among this
field of nine (9), which sets up nicely for one who can possesses the ability
to come off the pace as well as the pedigree to “get” 9 furlongs.
HOW I SEE IT: There will be a mad
dash to the first turn from #1 - Wildcat Moon (6-1), #2 – Rush In (12-1), #3 –
Counting Days (30-1) and #4 – Manando, all wanting to be on the lead. #5 –
Zeewat (5-2), #6 – Nina’s Dragon (12-1), #7 – North Pacific (30-1) and #8 –
Carving (3-1) will be content to stalk the leaders while longshot #9 – Dice Flavor (20-1) will likely be the trailer throughout the early stages. Based on
what should be a very fast first quarter, half and three-quarter fractions,
most will be getting leg weary as they enter the stretch. The one who will have
plenty left in the tank for a big stretch run we be #9 – Dice Flavor. Though
all four of his starts have been on turf, the southern CA shipper has improved
in each of those starts even when encountering trouble in his last two,
breaking his maiden then 3rd in a $80k optional claimer.
The Play: $5 WIN #9, $10 PLACE #9, $20 SHOW #9 and $2 Ex Box 4-8-9
Selections for all 9 races on the Laurel Park on Saturday (Feb. 16th) card, including G2 Barbara Fritchie Hcp, BEST BET and LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day, see Maryland's Own GQ.