Bwana bulls his way to El Camino Real victory

BWANA BULL (Holy Bull) ran his winning streak to three with a hard-fought

victory over Freesgood (Free House) in Saturday's $200,000

El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Bay Meadows. A five-length winner of

the California Derby in his previous start, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained colt

remained on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail while notching his first graded win,

improving his overall mark to 8-4-2-1, $244,962, with the one-length score.

Bwana Bull completed 1 1/16 miles over the fast Bay Meadows track in 1:43 1/5

with Russell Baze.

Coalinga Kid (Free House) sprinted to the early lead and ripped through fast

fractions in :22 3/5 and :45 4/5 before backing up. Candy's Bro (E Dubai) and

Freesgood moved in tandem to the front approaching the far turn, with the former

narrowly setting the six-furlong split in 1:10 3/5. Bwana Bull overcame a bit of

early trouble after being forced wide into the first turn, but he settled into a

good stalking trip and had advanced into a threatening position by the

three-quarters mark, about two lengths back of the leaders. Candy's Bro threw in

the towel approaching the stretch as Freesgood surged to a clear lead, and Bwana

Bull trailed by 1 1/2 lengths in second as his rival passed the mile mark in

1:36 3/5. Bwana Bull steadily closed the gap, collaring Freesgood in deep

stretch, and edged clear in the final jumps.

Favored at even money, Bwana Bull gave back $4, $2.40 and $2.20 to his many

backers. The Mark DeDomenico, Dan Jelladian and Jerry Todaro colorbearer keyed

the $7.10 exacta ($1) with the 9-2 Freesgood, who returned $4 and $3.80 for his

commendable effort. It was a length back to the late-running Zoning In (Bertrando)

in third, who was off at 24-1 and paid $6.60. The 6-7-1 trifecta ($1) was good

for $65.60. Court the King (Doneraile Court), Candy's Bro, Brave Sun (Until

Sundown) and Coalinga Kid came next under the wire.

Bred in Kentucky by John R. Penn, Bwana Bull was purchased for $140,000 at

the 2005 Keeneland September sale after selling for $75,000 as a weanling. He's

out of Shahalo (Halo), making him a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Bwana

Charlie (Indian Charlie), the multiple stakes-placed Ten Halos (Marquetry) and

an unraced juvenile colt named My Pal Charlie (Indian Charlie). Bwana Bull broke

his maiden at Bay Meadows in October and then finished second in an allowance.

He started his present winning skein with a four-length allowance score at

Golden Gate Fields in late December and captured the California Derby in late

January.