El Camino Real Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Ten sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles in the $150,000 El Camino Real Derby

(G3) at Bay Meadows on Saturday. BEHINDATTHEBAR (Forest Wildcat) lacks the

credentials of much of this field but looked so good breaking his maiden that

we'll side with him in this one. The bay colt was a closing second in his debut

and then posted a visually impressive maiden win at seven furlongs, suggesting

that the added ground in here will not pose a problem. The colt remains a

question mark over this surface, but he was purchased at the 2007 OBS June sale

after breezing on the dirt and we'll use that as our guide. Privately acquired

by Padua Stables following his latest win and transferred to Todd Pletcher, the

bay looks the part. Mike Baze will guide the talented Kentucky-bred.

NIKKI'SGOLDENSTEED (Formal Gold) has impressed in his last pair, especially

most recently, when displaying push-button acceleration in the lane of

the Turf Paradise Derby. The Bob Hess Jr. trainee is bred to run all day, has

trained steadily in preparation for this, and is well drawn on the rail in his

graded debut. His best could be good enough, and we think it will be difficult

to keep this one off the board in this spot beneath Jon Court.

COAST GUARD (Stormy Atlantic) is probably as talented as any in the field and

has a big chance to win if he's right for David Hofmans. The Robert B. Lewis S.

(G2) runner-up will have absolutely no problem with this trip and, we're

guessing, should handle the dirt oval, so his health is the lone concern for us.

We've been put off by the remarks from his conditioner about his recent

soundness scare, so we can't put him any higher at a low price in here. Aaron Gryder will be in the irons.

MASTER DANIEL (Broken Vow) was much the best in a maiden win at Golden Gate

and will take the big jump to stakes foes for Doug O'Neill. The bay colt earned

a race-best 99 BRIS Speed number in his latest win and showed a nice rating

tactic, something that should come in handy in this fray. We're not excited

about the widest post, but talent should carry this one a long way. Russell Baze

will guide the expensive two-year-old purchase.

TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) was a decent fourth in the California Derby last

out and will make his dirt debut in here for Beau Greely. The gelded bay has

lower Speed figures than his prime competitors and is a question mark on

this surface, so we can't endorse him for the win on this occasion. The

Kentucky-bred could find his way into the exotics picture with a strong close

off the expected pace duel.

PLEASURE GROUNDS (Doneraile Court) is another who could hit the board with a

well-timed ride for trainer Dean Pederson. The dark bay sophomore looked good in

taking an allowance tilt to prepare for this test and could receive a nice

paycheck with improvement. BAMAHA BREEZE (Lord Carson) has won three consecutive outings while sprinting

and gets the distance and class test in here for Steven Miyadi. The bay colt is

bred for speed and will likely have the early edge in here, but we can't see him

taking this group all the way on the front.

GENERAL DAN (Capsized) has run the best two races of his life on the main

track at Bay Meadows, but he doesn't appear to be stakes quality at this point

of his career. It took 13 tries and a Tapeta surface for AUTISM AWARENESS (Tannersmyman)

to earn his first win, and this contest seems too ambitious for him.

Either Paulo Lobo entered the wrong sophomore in here or he knows something

we don't, but we still can't suggest the maiden DREAMED DAY (Silver Deputy)

against this group.