How to bet the 2024 El Camino Real Derby

A total of eight three-year-olds will travel 1 1/4 miles on the all-weather at Golden Gate in Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby. Two-time Grade 3 victor #6 Endlessly is the clear class of the field and the one to beat for conditioner Michael McCarthy, but I will aim to get some value with one of his foes in the contest. 

El Camino Real Derby Wagers

• $20 win #7 Tapalo ($20)
• $5 trifecta 6,7 with 6,7 with 4,8 ($20)
• $1 superfecta 6,7 with 6,7 with 4,8 with all ($20)

John Sadler’s #7 Tapalo has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in each career outing to date and could be any kind while making his synthetic debut in the feature. By Tapiture, the $55,000 juvenile purchase has flashed speed in each of his career appearances to date and will surely be forwardly placed on the move to nine furlongs on Saturday. 

The New York-bred sophomore has been working in swift fashion this winter and runs for a conditioner who is good with this kind of class move in general. I expect the bay to force the early action while always in the clear beneath Evin Roman, and to take command in early stretch en route to earning his first stakes win. 

The aforementioned Endlessly endured a fine juvenile season with a trio of open-length wins on the lawn to commence his career, prior to capping his 2023 with an unplaced showing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita. The son of Oscar Performance displayed tactical speed combined with a quick turn of foot in the first trio of his two-year-old runs, and he will appreciate the class relief to kick off his sophomore campaign. Umberto Rispoli picks up the mount atop the formidable Amerman homebred. 

For the lower rungs of the exotics, #4 Arctic Breeze has shown steady improvement in advance of his stakes debut and comes off of a dominant maiden win on the course. Trained by Blaine Wright, the Arrogate colt is bred to prosper with the move to 1 1/8 miles, and the removal of blinkers appears to have done good things for the Kentucky bred, as well. I also feel that he will rate off of the early tempo early on with William Antongeorgi in the stirrups. 

Southern California invader #8 Guy Named Joe has been consistent on the lawn for trainer Doug O’Neill and will be in the mix for a top-three finish if he takes to the All-Weather under Alexander Chavez. The American Pharoah colt always puts in a good run late, and he is another who figures to appreciate the added ground, too. The bay could be moving best of all inside the final furlong.