Exit Stage Left leads the way in California Derby

Berkeley, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Exit Stage Left, saddled by Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, set the pace and captured Saturday’s $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields. The 1 1/16-mile stakes is the local prep for the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 15.

Co-owned by Hollendorfer and ridden by Russell Baze, Exit Stage Left assumed the lead on the first turn of the stakes while being pressured by Harbaugh in the eight-horse field.

Exit Stage Left, the 5-2 second pick, put away Harbaugh on the final turn and was able to hold off both 9-5 favorite Enterprising and 25-1 longshot Infosec nearing the wire.

Exit Stage Left posted a half-length victory over Enterprising followed by Infosec, Puppy Manners, Argyle Cut, Royal Banker, Harbaugh and Morally Bankrupt.

The time for the Cal Derby was 1:44.07 on the synthetic track.

Exit Stage Left notched his third stakes win in as many career starts all with Hall of Fame jockey Baze in the saddle. The victory was worth $60,000 to give the chestnut colt $135,350 in earnings.

The chestnut colt won the Golden Nugget at Golden Gate in his first start as the even-money favorite on Nov. 9 and captured the Gold Rush Stakes four weeks later at the track as the 3-5 top pick.

Exit Stage Left returned $7.20, $3.40 and $3.00. Enterprising paid $4.00 and $3.20, and Infosec paid $8.60 to show.

Categorized in: Horses