8 Mzo. USA. El Camino Real Derby. G3. Bay Meadows. 8,5f. Dirt. 150.000 $
1.- AUTISM AWARENESS (L.Contreras)
2.- NIKKI'SGOLDENSTEED (J.Court)
3.- TRES BORRACHOS (M.Garcia)
Autism Awareness, at 62-to-1 the longest shot in the nine-horse field, rallied to beat Nikki'sgoldensteed by 1 1/2 lengths Saturday in the Grade 3 $150,000 El Camino Real Derby for 3-year-olds at Bay Meadows.
Autism Awareness, ridden by Luis Contreras, ran 1 1-16 miles in 1:43.170, and paid $126, $46.49 and $17.60. Nikki'sgoldensteed returned $4.60 and $3.80, and Tres Borrachos paid $7.20 to show.
Trained by Genaro Vallejo, Autism Awareness did not win any of his first 12 races, stretching to last July, before breaking his maiden in his previous start.
"We knew he was a little special from the beginning, and with a little luck he could have won some of those races" trainer Gernaro Vallejo said. "We missed getting him into an easier race, but he was doing so well that we just wanted to give him a shot. It was the owner who suggested we try this spot."
Tres Borrachos and Nikki'sgoldensteed raced side-by-side until the field turned for home, when Pleasure Grounds moved up to challenge the pair. But Autism Awareness found racing room on the outside and accelerated past them all.
"The horse helped me a lot," Contreras said. "He relaxed and when it was time to go, he took off and finished strong."
Autism Awareness is owned by John Taboada, whose son Renzo was diagnosed with autism at age 2.
"We have decided to do whatever we can to increase the public's knowledge of this problem. My wife, Hedieh, had the idea to name a racehorse to promote this," he said.
Autism Awareness was purchased as a yearling for only $1,000 at a California auction after Taboada was the only bidder on the horse.
The victory was worth $90,000 and boosted the winner's bankroll to $151,967.
Vallejo indicated that the Kentucky Derby remained a possibility, although he would have to pay the $6,000 late-nomination fee to be eligible.
"I think we have that now," Taboada noted.