By Bloodhorse.com
ALBANY, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2014) — California-bred Tamarando and Dance With Fate, the one-two finishers in the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) Feb. 15 at Golden Gate Fields, exited the race in good order and will likely make their next starts in Kentucky.
Tamarando came from last in a field of eight to win the 1 1/8-mile El Camino Real Derby by a half-length over Dance With Fate, who took second by 2 1/4 lengths over 6-5 favorite Enterprising.
“He came out of the race real well,” said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer of Tamarando, who earned his third career stakes victory at odds of 2-1. All three of Tamarando’s stakes wins have come on synthetic surfaces, including the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) on Polytrack, the Real Quiet Stakes on Cushion Track at Betfair Hollywood Park, and the El Camino Real Derby on Tapeta.
Hollendorfer said he is looking at the $550,000 Spiral Stakes (gr. III), a 1 1/8-mile race that will be run March 22 at Turfway Park, as a possible next race for Tamarando. Turfway Park is located in Florence, Ky., and has a Polytrack racing surface.
The El Camino Real Derby is an official Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) prep and Tamarando earned 10 points toward qualifying for the race with his victory. Dance With Fate collected four points, Enterprising earned two points, and fourth-place finisher Puppy Manners picked up one point.
In the Spiral Stakes, Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be awarded as follows: 50-20-10-5.
Trainer Peter Eurton reported Dance With Fate came out of the El Camino Real Derby “fine” and that he has a race picked out for his colt.
“It will definitely be the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I),” said Eurton, referring to the 1 1/8-mile race that will be run April 12 at Keeneland. “It’s 60 days, which is pretty long (between starts), but I think he’ll like that surface.”
Keeneland, in Lexington, Ky., also has a Polytrack surface, and the Blue Grass carries a $750,000 purse. Qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby will be distributed in the Blue Grass as follows: 100-40-20-10.
Trainer Tom Proctor said Enterprising came out of the El Camino Real Derby “good,” but said he had not decided on the next start.