
The horse racing world turns to Northern California on Saturday, February 11 for the El Camino Real Derby! The race offers a purse of $100,000 as well as 10-4-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby points to its top five finishers.
It also gives its winner a free berth to the Preakness: something its 2021 winner, Rombauer, used to great effect when he went on to win the second jewel of the Triple Crown! Rombauer continues a great history of El Camino Real horses doing well in the Preakness. El Camino Real Derby winners include 1985 Preakness winner Tank’s Prospect, 1986 Preakness winner Snow Chief, and 1994 Preakness and Belmont winner Tabasco Cat.
The El Camino Real Derby is one of the most exciting horse race betting of the year at Golden Gate, and you don’t want to miss it. Keep reading to find out how to bet the race, and where to wager on the race online!
Where to Bet the El Camino Real Derby
Before you pick a single horse in the El Camino Real Derby, your first step is to choose the right place to bet the El Camino Real Derby online. Choosing the right online sportsbook can be tough since there are so many out there. But, our betting experts know about the best online sportsbooks, and they can help you make the best choice.
Every one of our recommended sportsbooks has the basics: a great user interface, trusted money management, and market-leading odds. Each one offers different incentives to players, and you can maximize your winnings by picking the site whose bonuses suit your betting stakes and style best.
The Best Online Racebooks
Our experts can help you find out which online sportsbooks offer the best sign-up bonuses, rebates, and referral incentives in just a few minutes. Read the reviews, make your account, and get ready for the best online betting experience for the El Camino Real Derby!
El Camino Real Derby Horses
These are the runners for the 2023 El Camino Real Derby including their trainers, jockeys, and post positions:
- GIlmore (Bob Baffert / Jose Valdivia, Jr.)
- Chase the Chaos (Ed Moger, Jr. / Armando Ayuso)
- Happy Does (Felix Rondan / Santos Rivera)
- Passarando (Steven Specht / Frank Alvarado)
- Harcyn (Steve Sherman / William Antongeorgi III)
- In Honor of Autism (Jonathan Wong / Evin Roman)
- Sea Dog (O. J. Jauregui / Francisco Monroy)
- Nullarbor (Bob Baffert / Assael Espinoza)
Keep in mind that the morning line, when it is assigned, is not a guaranteed price. Instead, it is the track handicapper’s best estimation of what the tote board will look like at post time. Your best bet is to play the El Camino Real Derby online, since online sportsbooks often offer fixed-odds betting on major races and you can lock in an overlay the moment you bet!
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Gilmore | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Passarando | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Thirsty John | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Chase the Chaos | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Nullarbor | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Happy Does | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Harcyn | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Free El Camino Real Derby Picks
Now that you have your sportsbook account and you can get a look at their odds, it is the right time to handicap the race. Read on for expert 2023 El Camino Real Derby analysis:
El Camino Real Derby Contenders
With several horses in the expected field who like to show a lot of speed, this race sets up well for someone who has a tracking gear. Though Passarando has tables to turn on Thirsty John from last out, that race came on dirt and he returns to the Tapeta he loves. He has won from multiple race shapes and his best race yet was at two turns. With pedigree to stretch out a bit further, he is well spotted in this.
The fact that trainer Bob Baffert has won two of the last three editions of this means you have to look at his horses. Both Gilmore and Nullarbor have attractive synthetic-track breeding. Gilmore is the far more attractive one, however, between his victory at two turns and the fact that he can win a race from off the pace. He should be able to carve out a good trip. Nullarbor, on the other hand, ran poorly in his only two-turn start and needed to drop for a tag to graduate.
El Camino Real Derby Exotics Horses
Chase the Chaos is emerging as a real two-turn horse. Sent off at a baffling 65-1 in the Gold Rush two back, he finished a good second and followed that up with a blowout allowance win on December 30. He has tables to turn on Passarando from the Gold Rush but he appears to be improving and the Uncle Mo on bottom should help him get one more furlong.
Happy Does struggled on dirt, but has been much better on turf and Tapeta. He won an allowance going a mile at Golden Gate in game fashion, and being by Southern Image he has a shot to handle the extra furlong. Though he has tables to turn on the horses that beat him in the Gold Rush three back, he has improved since then and should run well late.
Harcyn has a lot to prove on the stretch out, as he has yet to try two turns and will have other speed to battle. But, he won on a contested pace on debut. And, being by Goldencents out of a Street Cry half to Giacomo and Tiago, his pedigree appeals strongly for the stretch out in trip.
El Camino Real Derby Free Picks
You have made your betting account and gotten to know the field for the 2023 El Camino Real Derby. Now, all that’s left is to place your bets! These are the expert picks for the 2023 El Camino Real Derby:
- $20 to win – Passarando
- $1 exacta key – Passarando with Chase the Chaos, Gilmore
- $0.50 trifecta key – Passarando with Chase the Chaos, Gilmore, Happy Does
- $0.20 superfecta key – Passarando with Chase the Chaos, Gilmore, Happy Does, Harcyn