San Rafael-Cal Derby Probables..
 

San Rafael
Square Eddie
Brother Keith
Fiddlers Afleet
Frumious*
Charlie's Moment
Desert Eagle
Feisty Suances
The Pamplemousse


Cal Derby
Gallant Son
Chocolate Candy
Axel Foley
Adriatic Moon
Merus Miami
Frumious*

My goodness has the Cal Derby lost it's luster. I don't know what the purse is now, but in the 80's, it was a Grade II for $400,000 and the race was run the 1st or 2nd week in April. They always got good sized fields, with many So. Cal shippers, and capacity crowds at Golden Gate for Derby day. I remember notable runners such as Telly's Pop, Beau's Eagle, Jaklin Klugman, Vernon Castle, Simply Majestic and Green Alligator winning this race. Some of these ran well, in the Ky Derby, but I don't think any Cal Derby winner has won in Kentucky. The race seems to get lost in the shuffle the past few years.

The Cal Derby was once a true stop on the TC trail. Today's trainers see the early April spot as the "final prep" weekend for Derby colts where it was once the second to last prep. How things have changed.

The CA Derby can be viewed as a replacement for the El Camino Real Derby, traditionally held in this spot when Bay Meadows had the dates. Much more so than the CA Derby itself, the ECR Derby was a potent producer of TC candidates.