El Gato Malo made his first five career starts on the synthetic tracks of California, and owner West Point Thoroughbreds and trainer Craig Dollase thought that the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) would be a good place for the El Corredor colt to make his dirt debut.
Unfortunately El Gato Malo fell a bit short on the graded stakes earnings list, keeping him out of the Kentucky Derby, so Dollase and West Point set their sights on the Preakness Stakes (G1) instead. But sometime after the Derby they decided to skip the Preakness and instead shipped to Lone Star Park for the Lone Star Derby (G3).
Despite enduring some bumping on both the first turn and at the top of the stretch, El Gato Malo bulled his way home for the Lone Star Derby victory, his most impressive performance since winning the San Rafael Stakes (G3) by 6 1/4 lengths.
El Gato Malo went into the Lone Star Derby off his worst performance, fifth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), the only time he has finished worse than second, and came out of it a contender for the Belmont Stakes (G1).
In the process he displayed his versatility. He had won on three different synthetic tracks at Santa Anita Park, Hollywood Park, and Golden Gate Fields. In the Lone Star Derby he also showed ability and determination on dirt, jockey Rafael Bejarano observing that he was "very, very comfortable through the whole race."