The Fall Meet headliner came up very strong this year! 11 horses are set to lineup in Saturday’s G3 Berkeley Handicap. A nice blend of Northern California’s top horses along with some Southern California shippers makes for a very compelling race. This 100k G3 is going to be run at 1 1/16m on the main track.
Past 5 Berkeley Handicap winners:
2018- Editore
2017- Editore
2016- Stryker Phd
2015- Poshky
2014- Pepper Crown
1- My Friend Emma (Amador/ Ramos): Stretching out to a route after a 6th place finish in the Oakland Stakes. Looks like a sprinter but does have a win at 1m over this track last April. Also was 2nd in last year’s G3 All American. Seems off form now but maybe routing will wake him up. Going to send hard from the inside.
2- Grecian Fire (Antongeorgi/ Desormeaux): Disappointed last time out when finishing 4th as the favorite in the Joseph T. Grace Stakes. Finished ahead of Ohio, Majestic Eagle, and What A View in the G2 Del Mar Mile in August. Took down the G3 All American on today’s track back in May. 3/6 lifetime over the tapeta. Worked a sharp 48.1 for 4f on Nov 16th. The more pace in front of him, the better.
3- Mugaritz (Gonzalez/ Wong): Win-machine is looking for his 6th straight victory. Was put on the shelf in March and has come back to win the Bull Dog Handicap at 9f on dirt and the 8.5f Joseph T. Grace Stakes on turf. Showed a lot of heart and determination in the lane in the last start. Super versatile running style, so the 3 post shouldn’t be a problem– he can be placed anywhere. 4 for 6 over the main track at Golden Gate Fields. Goes out for leading trainer Jonathan Wong. Numbers fit well and is coming off 2 sharp works.
4- Souter (Alvarado/ Glatt): Just missed by 3/4 of a length at Keeneland last time out in a Turf Allowance (4 horses out of that race have run back, and the only on the board finisher was the 5th place runner in a G3 at CD). Will be sitting towards the back and trying to run on late. Has never run on an All-weather surface before. Figures are a tad on the slow side, but could be dangerous if the pace gets hot.
5- Ashleyluvssugar (Blanc/ Eurton): Hard-knocking 8yo has surpassed $1.4 million in career earnings. Was last seen running 6th in the California Dreamin’ Stakes at Del Mar in July, a race that was won by Grecian Fire. His best races have come going 9+ furlongs on the grass– this distance of 8.5f could be a bit on the sharp side for him. 5:3-0-2 record over an All-weather surface. Should be ready for this one based on his Nov 18th workout (click here).
6- Lymebyrd (Monroy/ Tekos Jr.): Coming into this one as one of the outsiders, but his form on the main track at Golden Gate Fields has been tremendous– he has 4 wins, and has hit the board in 6 of his 7 starts over it. Limehouse colt won his last start back in September in an Allowance that was run at the same distance and surface as the Berkeley. There was only 1 out of 5 runners to come back from that race to hit the board, and that was Sixes’ 3rd in the Joseph T. Grace Stakes. A steady string of workouts heading into this one.
7- Majestic Eagle (Gomez/ Drysdale): Was last seen running 5th by just 2 lengths in the Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs back on Aug 31st. He ran behind Snapper Sinclair, who would eventually run 4th in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. Majestic Eagle finished 6th by 3 1/4 lengths in the G2 Del Mar Mile 2 starts back. Drysdale is 13% with runners off a 90+ day layoff. Has never run on an All-weather surface. Will be trying to run on late.
8- Camino Del Paraiso (Hernandez/ Jauregui): Coming off a narrow neck defeat to Mugaritz in the Joseph T. Grace Stakes. Also ran 2nd in this race last year by a neck. Coming off 2 consecutive 59 and change bullet works. Gets leading rider Juan Hernandez, who is coming off a win in Friday’s Golden Gate Debutante. Camino Del Paraiso always seems to make a big move but just can’t cross the wire first– has 4 wins, 10 seconds, and 2 thirds in 31 starts. Pretty handy horse and will likely settle in mid-pack. Can he get over the hump here?
9- Ohio (Couton/ McCarthy): The Brazilian-bred Ohio ships up north for trainer Mike McCarthy. Ran 9th by just 3 1/2 lengths in the G2 City of Hope Mile last time out on Oct 5. Was 3rd and 4th respectively in his 2 starts prior to that in the Presque Isle Downs Mile and the G2 Del Mar Mile. Seems like his preferred distance is a mile, as he did win a G1 at that distance back in May. He ran at today’s distance over an All-weather surface at Presque Isle and ran well– just flattened out a bit late. Class of the field.
10- Brave Nation (Martinez/ Wright): Took an Optional Claiming race at a mile on the main track here back in May. Shipped up to Canada after that for trainer John Snow and would go on to win the 1 3/8m G3 Premier Handicap at Hastings. Was last seen running 4th in the G2 Marathon on the Breeders Cup undercard. Back in the Wright barn now. Wide post, but seems pretty versatile. Might want to run farther than the 8.5 furlongs.
11- What a View (Pena/ Monroe): Former G1 winner is making his 1st start for trainer Sherrie Monroe. 8yo gelding ran 4th in the California Flag Handicap going 5 1/2f on the turf on Oct 19. Was on the lead in the G2 Del Mar Mile 2 starts back but faded to 7th. Has a lot of speed, and is going to have to use it from the far-outside post. 0 for 1 in his 1 start over an All-weather surface. Should be ready 2nd off the layoff here, but is going to have to find his previous form.
Pace scenario: I see My Friend Emma sending from the rail to get the lead. What a View is going to have to use some speed from the far outside post to be able to save some ground on the first turn– should be in a close spot on the outside in 2nd. Mugaritz has some speed and I think he will sit just off the leaders in a nice spot. Brave Nation, Ohio, Camino Del Paraiso, and Lymebyrd should all be sitting in a stalking position. Ashleyluvssugar and Majestic Eagle will likely be close to the stalkers. Grecian Fire and Souter will be at the back.
Selections: 3-8-9-2
#3 Mugaritz (4/1)– Think he sits a great trip here behind the speed and will be able to get the jump on the closers. On a roll right now.
#8 Camino Del Paraiso (8/1)– Always in the mix. 2nd in this race last year. Coming off sharp works and gets the leading rider.
#9 Ohio (3/1)– Class of the field. Think he’s best going 1 mile. Deserving favorite.
#2 Grecian Fire (9/2)– Won G3 All American over this track back in May. Sharp work on Nov 16th. Holds form over a few of the other runners in here.
NorCal Horse Racing News 