Berkeley, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Metaboss, ridden by Alex Solis, made a
successful trip north to Golden Gate Fields to capture Saturday’s $200,000 El
Camino Real Derby.
Trained by Jeff Bonde, Metaboss went off at 6-1 in the 10-horse field of 3-
year-olds. The chestnut colt, with Solis riding for the first time, left from
post 3 and trailed the leaders in the early going of the 1 1/8-mile stakes.
Setting the pace were 9-5 favorite Conquest Typhoon, 5-1 third pick
Indianaughty and 40-1 longshot Ernest Shackleton. Those three were together on
the lead entering the far turn and around the final turn.
Conquest Typhoon had the lead entering the stretch as Metaboss rallied down
the middle of the track. Metaboss, racing for the first time on a synthetic
track, rolled past the field and posted a three-length win.
Cross the Line, winner of the Golden Gate’s California Derby, finished second
followed by Conquest Typhoon and Harmonic.
The time for the El Camino Real was 1:49.92 on Golden Gate’s artificial track.
Metaboss earned his first stakes victory in just his fifth career start. The
win was worth $120,000 to bring the colt’s bankroll to $177,520 as he notched
his second straight win. The 3-year-old earned 10 points as part of the “Road
to the Kentucky Derby” series that determines the starting field for the Run
for the Roses on May 2.
Metaboss was coming off his maiden victory on Jan 4 over Santa Anita’s turf
course. He finished third in his debut race at Santa Anita last October and
three weeks later was fourth to Ocho Ocho Ocho in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. At
Del Mar on Nov. 29 he was second in a maiden race on the Jimmy Durante Turf
course.
Metaboss returned $15.20, $7.80 and $4.80. Cross the Line paid $6.00 and
$3.60, and Conquest Typhoon paid $2.80 to show.
