Snow Chief Romps at Bay Meadows

Snow Chief, continuing on schedule on the way to the Kentucky Derby, was an easy 2 1/2-length winner Sunday in the $250,000 El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows in San Mateo.

Heavily favored by a crowd of 16,000, Snow Chief saved ground behind the early leader, stablemate Darby Fair, took command on the far turn and won with only two taps of the whip from jockey Alex Solis.

After the race, trainer Mel Stute said that Snow Chief’s schedule calls for the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 1 and the Santa Anita Derby on April 6. Those two races are expected to set up the California-bred for the Kentucky Derby on May 3.

“I had plenty of horse left at the wire,” Solis said of Snow Chief’s 1 1/16-mile performance Sunday. “He gets stronger and stronger every race he runs. With the long stride he has, he should be even better over greater distances of ground.”

The Kentucky Derby is 1 miles.

Snow Chief, winning for the seventh time in 11 lifetime starts, earned $137,500 and increased his career total to more than $1.1 million. Timed in 1:42 3/5 on a sloppy track, he paid $3.40, $2.80 and $2.20.

Badger Land, finishing second, a half-length in front of Darby Fair, paid $6.80 and $3.20. Darby Fair returned $2.40.

Stute had hoped for a double stakes day Sunday, but Right Con finished fourth in the Charles H. Strub Stakes at Santa Anita.