Baffert's Blackadder runs down Mackinnon in the El Camino Real

Blackadder shipped north to Golden Gate Fields for trainer Bob Baffert and ran down odds-on favorite Mackinnon to win the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby on Saturday. 

Sent off the 7-2 second choice under Edwin Maldonado, Blackadder uncorked a rally from mid-pack and stormed along the inside of Mackinnon to win in in a final time of 1:50.34 for 1 1/8 miles. 

While the El Camino Real Derby offered 10 Kentucky Derby points to the winner, those points will be vacated as part of Baffert's two-year ban from the classic. Blackadder also earns a berth into the Preakness as part of the conditions of the race. Last year, Rombauer parlayed a win in the El Camino Real to a victory in the Preakness for trainer Michael McCarthy. 

Mackinnon, a stakes winner on turf for trainer Doug O'Neill, stalked fractions of 23.77, 47.77 and 1:12.58 for six furlongs under Abel Cedillo before seizing the lead in mid-stretch. He looked clear to the wire before getting nailed by Blackadder in the final sixteenth of a mile. 

Mackinnon earned four Derby points for the runner-up finish to add to the one earned when fourth in the Jan. 1 Sham (G3) at Santa Anita. He was followed across the wire by Del Mo (2 points) and Il Bellator (1). Blackadder paid $9.60. 

By Quality Road, Blackadder earned his diploma when making his third start on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. A $620,000 auction purchase, he is campaigned by an extensive partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables.