Autism Awareness shocks in El Camino Real

Johnny Taboada's AUTISM AWARENESS (Tannersmyman) moved outside in the stretch and pulled clear to a 1 1/2-length upset in the $150,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Bay Meadows on Saturday. Breaking well and settling in fourth while saving ground under Luis Contreras, the sophomore colt awaited room approaching the final turn and showed a good turn of foot once clear, quickly taking over and pulling away to finish the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 over the fast main oval. The Genaro Vellejo trainee went postward as the 62-1 longest price on the board and returned a healthy $126, $46.40 and $17.60.

Nikki'sgoldensteed (Formal Gold) ran arguably the best race on this day, as the colt jumped a shadow early, faced pressure throughout, was headed in the lane and re-rallied to be a clear second along the rail. The 5-2 co-second choice paid $4.60 and $3.80 while completing the $296.80 exacta ($1). Tres Borrachos (Ecton Park) disputed the lead with the second placer to the top of the lane and stayed on well to hold the third spot by a head at 10-1. The show payoff was $7.20 and the winning $1 trifecta was worth $3,252.10. The 3-1-5-6 superfecta, with Pleasure Grounds (Doneraile Court) in fourth at 13-1, returned a whopping $40,974.20 for $1. Behindatthebar (Forest Wildcat), the 5-2 co-second choice, was next and was followed by Dreamed Day (Silver Deputy), Master Daniel (Broken Vow), 5-2 favorite Coast Guard (Stormy Atlantic) and General Dan (Capsized). Bamaha Breeze (Lord Carson) was withdrawn.

Autism Awareness was defeated in his first 12 starts prior to breaking through with a dominant, four-length score in a maiden race in January. The dark bay now shows two wins and a second from three two-turn events, and improved his mark to 14-2-3-1, $151,967.

The winner was bred in the Golden State by Jim Eaton et al's, and was purchased for the bargain price of $1,000 at the 2006 Northern California Yearling sale. She is out of the winning Lady Essex (Sharp Victor) and has a pair of full siblings, a two-year-old filly named Cure Autism and an unnamed yearling colt.