El Camino Real Derby comes up strong at Golden Gate

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Berkeley, CA (Sports Network) - California Derby winner Positive Response and CashCall Futurity champ Comma to the Top top a seven horse field in Saturday's $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields for three-year-olds.

The El Camino Real is part of the new 'Preakness 5.5' bonus program. Any horse that wins the El Camino Real Derby, Santa Anita Derby and Preakness Stakes will have its owner receive a $5 million bonus and $500,000 for the trainer.

Positive Response won last month's $100,000 California Derby as the 7-5 favorite. Trained by co-owner William Morey, the gelding will start on Saturday from post five with Julien Couton again riding.

Positive Response, who won the track's Gold Rush Stakes in December, has won four of six career starts for $139,681. A winner of three straight, Positive Response won the Gold Rush by six-lengths over Grand Maneuver.

"He remains sharp and is doing really good," Morey said earlier.

Comma to the Top has drawn the inside post and will be ridden by Corey Nakatani. The gelding has won his last five starts for trainer Peter Miller.

One of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby, Comma to the Top will be making his 2011 debut in the El Camino Real Derby. The three-year-old captured last year's Real Quiet and Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park. Comma to the Top is already two for two in starts at Golden Gate.

Comma to the Top has six wins and a second in 10 career starts for $551,600.

Here is the complete field for the 1 1/8-mile El Camino Real in post position order: Comma to the Top, Corey Nakatani; Bluegrass Reward, Juan Hernandez; Formula Gold, Hector Romero; Silver Medallion, Russell Baze; Positive Response, Julien Couton; Anthony's Cross, Aaron Gryder and Jakesam, Frank Alvarado.

Post-time is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. (et) with starters carrying 121 pounds.