Metaboss rallies to victory in El Camino Real

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Berkeley, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Metaboss, ridden by Alex Solis, made a successful trip north to Golden Gate Fields to capture Saturday's $200,000 El Camino Real Derby.

Trained by Jeff Bonde, Metaboss went off at 6-1 in the 10-horse field of 3- year-olds. The chestnut colt, with Solis riding for the first time, left from post 3 and trailed the leaders in the early going of the 1 1/8-mile stakes.

Setting the pace were 19-10 favorite Conquest Typhoon, 5-1 third pick Indianaughty and 40-1 longshot Ernest Shackleton. Those three were together on the lead entering the far turn and around the final turn.

Conquest Typhoon had the lead entering the stretch as Metaboss rallied down the middle of the track. Metaboss, racing for the first time on a synthetic track, rolled past the field and posted a 2 1/2-length win.

Cross the Line, winner of Golden Gate's California Derby, finished second followed by Conquest Typhoon, Harmonic, Soul Driver, Stand and Salute, Mischief Clem, Ernest Shackleton, Indianaughty and Donji.

The time for the El Camino Real was 1:49.92 on Golden Gate's artificial track.

Metaboss earned his first stakes victory in just his fifth career start. The win was worth $120,000 to bring the colt's bankroll to $177,520 as he notched his second straight win. The 3-year-old earned 10 points as part of the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" series that determines the starting field for the Run for the Roses on May 2.

Metaboss was coming off his maiden victory on Jan. 4 over Santa Anita's turf course. He finished third in his debut race at Santa Anita last October and three weeks later was fourth to Ocho Ocho Ocho in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. At Del Mar on Nov. 29 he was second in a maiden race on the Jimmy Durante Turf course.

Metaboss returned $15.20, $7.80 and $4.80. Cross the Line paid $6.00 and $3.60, and Conquest Typhoon paid $2.80 to show.