Derby News

The aptly named Cause to Believe have his connections thinking Kentucky Derby after he scored a three-quarter length victory in Sunday's $250,000 El Camino Real (GIII), the key Kentucky Derby prep at Bay Meadows Race Course. Cause to Believe was facing a pair of highly regarded runners from southern California, but had only to fight off one serious challenge in the form of Objective, another local horse who finished second.

As the field of six went postward, A.P. Warrior, from the Eoin Harty barn and ridden by Alex Solis, was the prohibitive 6-5 favorite, with Cause to Believe the second choice at 5-2. Also in the gate was the Bob Baffert trainee Wanna Runner, who had most recently finished third to Brother Derek and Stevie Wonderboy in the San Rafael (GII). Out of the gate, it was Objective to the front, as his trainer Tom Roberts said would be the case before the race. Bold Chieftain broke from the outside post and was hustled into second, about a length behind the leader. Wanna Runner was up along side in third, while Cause to Believe, under perennial northern California leading rider Russel Baze tucked neatly along the rail in fourth. A.P. Warrior, keen to go on from the outset, was strangled back in fifth, three wide around the first turn, by Solis.

The running order didn't change through the first half mile in a relatively quick :46.87 and three quarters in 1:110.87. Nearing the top of the stretch however, Baze sent Cause to Believe through an opening on the rail, and he quickly moved to the top spot. Wanna Runner and Bold Chieftain began to fade at this point, leaving only Cause to Believe and Objective to decide the matter. It was really not much of a battle, as Cause to Believe opened up by two lengths. He made it interesting, seemingly pulling himself up nearing the finish. The final margin of victory was an easier than it looked 3/4 of a length. Objective was a good two lengths in front of Bold Chieftain, while Wanna Runner and A.P. Warrior were a well-beaten fourth and fifth, respectively. Longshot Acolyte rounded out the field. Passive Income was scratched.

Winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer had offered some differing opinions about his colt in the week prior to the race. On one hand, he said they weren't thinking Derby at that point, but he also felt the son of Maria's Mon was also among the best three-year-olds he has ever trained. After the race, it sounded like his opinion on the former may have changed.

"He usually does enough to get the job done", (referring to pulling himself up at the wire) Hollendorfer said. When asked about what's next on the road to the Derby, "We'll stay in California for now; there are alot of options here and in Kentucky in the Spring."

Owned by Peter Redekop BC Ltd, Cause to Believe won for the fifth time in eight starts, with three seconds. The victory was worth $137,500, running his total to $280,565. He rewarded his backers Sunday with payoffs of $7.40, $4.40 and $4.60. Objective was worth $8.40 and $8.40 to place, and Bold Chieftain paid $6.20 to show. The show prices were somewhat inflated when A.P. Warrior failed to hit the board. The $2 exacta was $50.60.

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