Chase the Chaos on improve for El Camino Real

In three starts since arriving at Golden Gate Fields last fall, Chase the Chaos has finished third, second, and first. The steady improvement has led to higher expectations and a start in Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby.

Chase the Chaos ended his 2022 season with a sharp win in an allowance race at a mile by 7 1/2 lengths on Dec. 30 that has trainer Ed Moger Jr. confident that the gelding belongs in the El Camino Real Derby.

“I think he’s a really talented horse,” Moger said. “I know he’s got a good chance.”

Owned by Bill Dory and Adam Ference, Chase the Chaos is one of several contenders in a field of eight in the El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles, the premier race for 3-year-olds in Northern California.

The winner receives a berth to the Preakness Stakes on May 20 at Pimlico. Golden Gate Fields and Pimlico are both owned by 1/ST Racing.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who won the 2022 El Camino Real Derby with Blackadder, starts two recent maiden race winners – Gilmore and Nullarbor. Passarando, winner of two stakes in 2022, and Harcyn, unbeaten in two sprints, have promising credentials. Happy Does, In Honor of Autism, and Sea Dog will be longshots.

Gilmore won a maiden race at a mile by four lengths at odds of 1-5 at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10 in his second start.

“We’ll see how he fits up there,” Baffert said of Gilmore’s first start away from Southern California.

Gilmore drew the inside post and is likely to race as a stalker. Harcyn and Nullarbor have speed.

Harcyn has won twice at six furlongs and faces a stamina test Saturday.

“He seems to want to go that far,” trainer Steve Sherman said. “He gallops out good. I think he can run.”

There are favorable elements in Harcyn’s pedigree. Harcyn’s female family includes halfbrothers Giamoco, winner of the 2005 Kentucky Derby, and Tiago, winner of the 2007 Santa Anita Derby.

Nullarbor, a $500,000 yearling purchase, won a maiden raceoptional claimer at six furlongs on Jan. 23 at Santa Anita, leading throughout. By Candy Ride, Nullarbor was eligible to be claimed for $62,500.

“I think that race woke him up,” Baffert said.

Passarando has won 4 of 8 starts and is the most experienced runner in the field. In his last two starts, Passarando won the Gold Rush Stakes at a mile on Dec. 3 at Golden Gate Fields, beating runner-up Chase the Chaos by 1 1/4 lengths; and finished third in the California Cup Derby for statebreds at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 7 at Santa Anita.

Trainer Steve Specht said the distance of the El Camino Real Derby will suit Passarando.

“He seems to be training pretty good,” Specht said. “There is speed in the race.”

The competition remains a concern.

“You never know what Baffert has,” Specht said. “His second- and third-stringers are usually 90 percent better than most people’s first string.

“Hopefully, Baffert is not as tough as he usually is.”