Chase the Chaos erupts late in El Camino Real Derby

Chase the Chaos wasn’t an early nominee to the Triple Crown, but perhaps the 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) – and the free berth to the Preakness (G1) – that he picked up will be a factor in his connections’ decision-making.

On the other hand, Chase the Chaos has relished the Tapeta surface here, and he broke his maiden on the turf at Canterbury as a juvenile, so it remains to be seen if he’ll transfer his form to dirt. The bay gelding was a solid second in his debut on Canterbury’s muddy main track, albeit in a maiden that was rained off the turf. 

Chase the Chaos is well named, considering that he picks up the pieces from a strong pace. That scenario was quick to unfold in the El Camino Real Derby, as one of the Bob Baffert shippers, Nullarbor, dashed to a big lead through fractions of :23.34 and :47.52. Nullarbor was still 5 1/2 lengths clear passing six furlongs in 1:12.64, but he was already slowing.

Harcyn, who had been biding his time in second, drew nearer entering the stretch and pounced. Baffert’s 9-5 favorite, Gilmore, was also grinding into contention, but in very workmanlike fashion on the inside.

Chase the Chaos, nestled further back in the pack, followed Gilmore through, then switched outside and delivered the coup de grace. Crossing the wire 1 1/2 lengths clear, he clocked 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.68.

Gilmore managed to place second, outfinishing Harcyn by a length. Passarando closed belatedly for fourth, followed by Nullarbor, Sea Dog, In Honor of Autism, and Happy Does. Harcyn and Passarando, neither Triple Crown-nominated, received three points and two points, respectively. Gilmore and Nullarbor are not eligible for points because Baffert is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc.

Chase the Chaos sports a mark of 6-3-2-1, $123,000. Initially based with Robertino Diodoro at Canterbury, he joined Moger and placed in his first two starts at Golden Gate last fall. He was third in the six-furlong Golden Nugget S., a closer second in the one-mile Gold Rush S., and rolled to a 7 1/2-length allowance win Dec. 30.

Bred in Pennsylvania by Mr. and Mrs. Dale N. Krapf, Chase the Chaos was a $10,000 bargain weanling at Keeneland November. His sire, Australian-bred Astern, is a Group 1-winning son of Medaglia d’Oro. Chase the Chaos’s dam, the Uncle Mo mare Live the Moment, is from the immediate family of multiple Grade 3-winning millionaire Mister Marti Gras, who scored stakes victories on turf, dirt, and all-weather surfaces.