El Commodore Makes Smashing SoCal Debut for Machowsky

Eastern invader El Commodore made a smashing West Coast debut Thursday as he led from wire-to-wire under the masterful handling of Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith to win the featured $85,000 Qualcomm QTL Purse at one mile over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Seizing control of the race in the first few strides, El Commodore set fast fractions and never was seriously threatened as he won by 2 1/2 lengths in a swift 1:32.99. The course record of 1:32.10 was set by Grade I turf miler Obviously last summer.

Irish-bred Kid Edward ran on well through the stretch to be second, three-quarters of a length in front of the 2-1 favorite, Lucayan, with Camp Victory fourth in the field of nine older horses.

El Commodore, a Kentucky-bred six-year-old son of El Prado owned by Kagele Brothers and Gallegos and trained by Mike Machowsky, was scoring his sixth victory in 30 starts. Earlier this year, El Commodore ran in stakes in Florida with middling success.

The winner went postward at 5-1 and returned $13.20, $7.40 and $4.60 to his backers in a crowd of 9,384. Kid Edward paid $6.60 and $4.60, while Lucayan paid $3.20 to show.

There were no perfect tickets in Thursday’s Pick Six so Friday’s program will feature a carryover of $101,569. Post time for the first race is 4 p.m.