El Camino Real Derby 2013 Results: Dice Flavor Upsets At 9/1

Dice Flavor led a trio of long shots to the wire in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby, winning by four lengths after breaking away from his rivals at the top of the stretch. Nina's Dragon and Countring Days, also sent off at long odds, rallied to finish second and third, respectively. There was a stewards inquiry following the race due to a ton of bumping and paint swapping at the top of the stretch. After the review, the running order of the top three remained the same.

Manando broke very fast from the gate and zipped an opening quarter of 23.10 and a half of 47.34 but the 2/1 second choice spit the bit on the far turn and finished dead last of the field of nine. You had to wonder where in the heck jockey Aaron Gryder was going with Manando as he seemingly ran away from the pack in the first half mile. If the race had been a six furlongs running off wouldn't have been a problem. But at nine furlongs, Mandando simply went too fast, too early.

Post time favorite Zeewat, winner of back-to-back stakes races at Golden Gate prior to the El Camino Real Derby, finished well back of the winner following a disappointing effort. Update: Upon further review of the race replay, Zeewat got stuck behind a wall of horses at the top of the stretch. I don't know if he had enough to beat the winner but his trip didn't do him any favors.

Dice Flavor is a three-year-old colt by Scat Daddy out of an Afeleet mare (Afleet Summer), trained by Patrick Gallagher and ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr.

Below are the payouts, fractions and internal splits from the El Camino Real Derby: