There will still be doubts going forward, but after watching what Peter Redekop’s Anothertwistafate did Feb. 16 at Golden Gate Fields, it would be hard for anyone aligned with the horse not to be excited.

With a host of Southern California invaders entered to challenge him in the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, the 3-year-old Scat Daddy colt defended his home track with signs of brilliance.

Already untouchable in two starts on the Golden Gate synthetic main track, the Blaine Wright-trained colt put on the best performance of his career in the 1 1/8-mile prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

After he broke best from post-position four under jockey Juan Hernandez, Anothertwistafate took a little pressure from Bob Baffert-trained second-betting choice Kingly, but he got away with easy quarter-mile fractions of :23.38, :49.09, and 1:13.78 through six furlongs.

Runaway winner Anothertwistafate. (Shane Micheli/ Vassar Photography)

Late on the final turn, Kingly couldn’t keep up and, while More Ice loomed, he eventually flattened out. Anothertwistafate extended his lead to six lengths at the eighth pole and cruised to the finish line seven lengths in front to finish the distance in 1:50.38.

Kingly held second, 2 1/2 lengths ahead of More Ice in third.

Whether Anothertwistafate will handle tougher tests or dirt remains to be seen, but for now it seems his connections are ready to try. Before his three straight open-length victories around two turns on the Golden Gate Tapeta Footings synthetic surface, Anothertwistafate debuted sprinting on the dirt at Santa Anita Park in November and finished ninth in a 12-horse field at odds of 14-1.

The El Camino Real win not only gives him 10 qualifying points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings, but also an automatic berth into the Preakness Stakes.

“We were happy to represent Northern California well. … We’re going to enjoy this, probably have a cocktail, let the horse come out of it, take a day or two, and start looking at things around the country,” Wright said of a potential next start on the Triple Crown trail.

Bred in Kentucky by Pursuit of Success out of the First Defense mare Imprecation, Anothertwistafate now has $94,545 in earnings from four starts. He was a $360,000 purchase by Alistair Roden Bloodstock from Wavertree Stables’ consignment to the Ocala Breeders’ Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale.