The Preakness path stops off in Northern California for the El Camino Real Derby, a race that offers an automatic berth and fees paid to the middle jewel of the Triple Crown to its winner. In 2021, Rombauer won this race en route to scoring an upset at Pimlico as well.

Let’s meet the contenders for the El Camino Real Derby (Race 7):

1-COME OUT FIGHTING: This $3,000 bargain purchase has been runner-up in 4 of 5 career starts and will be making his first attempt in the stakes ranks. Trainer Bill McLean has been red-hot at the Golden Gate Fields meeting, including this horse’s lone victory on December 31 over a mile.

2-GROGU: Five-race maiden comes off back-to-back second-place finishes over mile trips. Devoid of early speed, the 9-furlong distance of the El Camino Real Derby would be considered a plus for his running style. Damsire Unusual Heat provides plenty of stamina.

3-WILD JEWELS: Son of 2014 El Camino Real Derby winner Tamarando has a pair of existing local stakes wins already on his resume. He won the Golden Nugget sprinting and the Gold Nugget routing to close his busy, 6-race freshman season. He’s unbeaten in 3 starts over the local Tapeta and should be forwardly placed in the running under veteran Frank Alvarado.

4-ARCTIC BREEZE: Wire-to-wire maiden winner last time out over a mile, graduating in his sixth career start. This $375,000 purchase by Arrogate had disappointed on dirt for the Peter Miller stable, but has appreciated easier competition at Golden Gate and the move to Tapeta. Trainer Blaine Wright won the El Camino Real Derby in 2019 with Anothertwistafate, who would get him to the Preakness.

5-OLD TRIANGLE: The hottest horse in the field has won 3 of his last 4 starts against decidedly easier competition. We’ll see where he stacks up in the most stern test of his career. Sire Gig Harbor was a versatile sort, winning the Oakland sprinting at GGF on the main track as well as the Alcatraz routing on turf.

6-ENDLESSLY: Southern California turf specialist won the Del Mar Juvenile Turf as well as Santa Anita’s Zuma Beach during a 3-for-4 season in 2024. Trainer Michael McCarthy captained the ship for Rombauer in 2021, using this race amongst his preparation toward Preakness Stakes glory. Both runners’ form coming into the El Camino Real Derby showed 4 prior starts and a most recent effort off the board in the Breeders’ Cup (Endlessly in the Juvenile Turf, Rombauer in the Juvenile on dirt).

7-TAPALO: Trainer John Sadler has seen steady improvement out of this son of Tapiture, culminating with a maiden-winning score Jan. 12 at Santa Anita in his fourth start. Pedigree suggests the distance could be within reach, so expect this one to take them as far as he can while on or near the lead. Betmix stats show Sadler was 5: 1-1-3 with GGF stakes shippers in 2023.

8-GUY NAMED JOE: Yet another last-race maiden graduate, this Doug O’Neill trainee clicked in his fifth lifetime start while rallying from far back on the Santa Anita turf. Four straight Beyer Speed Figures identically at 71 while racing a mile on grass. Impeccably bred son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and Grade 2-winning turfer Hungry Island, a multiple Grade 1-placed performer who earned more than $750,000.