Stan Fulton’s UNCLE DENNY (In Excess [Ire]) tracked just off the pace in
Saturday’s $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3)
at Bay Meadows and failed to
disappoint as the 2-1 post time favorite, taking the 1 1/16-mile fast track
affair in 1:42 1/5. Under jockey Russell Baze, the bay sophomore tracked splits
of :22 3/5 and :45 3/5 set by Vasilias (Comic Strip) before taking over after
three-quarters in 1:09 4/5. As Vasilias shuffled back, the stalkers began to
close but could not catch Uncle Denny, who crossed the wire 2 1/4 lengths in
front. Wannawinemall (Royal Anthem), ninth when Uncle Denny took over the lead,
came home fast to be second at 9-2, a nose better than Buzzards Bay (Marco Bay) in third.
Uncle Denny gave back $6.20, $3.80 and $3.20 while keying $1 exotics of
$14.20 for the exacta, $70.60 for the trifecta and $1,286.50 for the 5-1-10-6 superfecta
with Customer (Silver Charm) in fourth. Wannawinemall returned $4.80 and $4.40 and
Buzzards Bay paid $6.40 for the show. Sharp Writer (Capote),
Big Top Cat (Storm Cat), Stormin Away (Skip Away), Vasilias, Wind Water (Bold
Badgett) and Stellar Magic (Western Fame) rounded out the order of finish.
Uncle Denny is conditioned by Rafael Becerra and improves his career earnings
with this win to $244,913 from an 5-4-0-0 record. He captured the California
Breeders’ Champion S. against fellow California-breds in his third career start
and has now faced open company in his last two starts, finishing fourth in the
Sham S. prior to Saturday’s score.
Bred by Mr. and Mrs. W M Siemon, the sophomore colt is the third foal out
of Gift to the World (His Majesty) and counts stakes-placed Infinite Faith
(Dixieland Band) as a half-brother as well as an unnraced two-year-old full
sister named Gift’s In Excess, a yearling half-brother named Bill’s Rascal (Free
House) and an unnamed weanling full sister.