Mugaritz Too Much for Southern Invaders in Berkeley
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Photo: Shane Micheli/ Vassar Photography
Mugaritz and Ricky Gonzalez win the Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields
In a stakes race that drew horses from all across California, it was Northern California local Mugaritz that proved too much for his southern counterparts, winning the $101,500 Berkeley Handicap (G3) at Golden Gate Fields Nov. 30 by 3 1/2 lengths over grade 1 winner Ohio.
Though Mugaritz had never won a graded race before Saturday, the public believed he could. Riding a five-race win streak, he was hammered to 6-5 favoritism from his 4-1 morning line, and bettors proved spot-on in their view of his chances.
Jockey Ricky Gonzalez had him snugly under a hold in fourth for the first three quarters of the race—while 33-1 longshot My Friend Emma set fractions of :23.40, :47.03, and 1:10.84—and once daylight appeared leaving the second turn, the winner quickly displayed his superiority over nine rivals. He accelerated to open up two lengths with a furlong to go, and extended his advantage to the finish over runner-up Ohio, winner of the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park earlier this year.
A 4-year-old gelded son of Dialed In trained by Jonathan Wong, Mugaritz raced 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate in 1:42.40. He paid $4.40 for a $2 win ticket.
Gonzalez said he had to wait for an opening to develop and received the opportunity he needed when pace-chasing What a View launched a move on the second turn, opening a hole that became wider when frontrunning My Friend Emma began to tire.
"I cut the corner and he shot right through it. He flew," said Gonzalez. "As soon as I asked him his turn of foot was amazing and he just kept going all the way to the finish."
The Berkeley was the third straight stakes win for Mugaritz after taking the Bull Dog Handicap Oct. 13 at Fresno and the Joseph T. Grace Stakes at Golden Gate Nov. 2. He now hasn't lost in six starts in California since he shipped from Kentucky and finished fifth in last year's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park.
"The way this horse runs, he tries every time," said assistant trainer Daniel Villalobos.
Alejandro Mercardo owns Mugaritz, who dipped into the maiden $20,000 ranks late in his 2-year-old year before never being risked for a claiming tag again. He has now won eight of 13 races and $227,125.
The gelding went through a sale once, failing to meet his reserve when bidding stopped at $37,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2017 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from the RiceHorse consignment.
Bred by Sean and Barbara Speck, he is out of the Flag Down mare Flag the Mint Down, who has produced seven winners, including dual stakes-placed Jules Journey (by Good Journey), an earner of $272,340.
Ohio, whose form regressed over the early summer months, turned in one of his better performances since in defeat, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of 24-1 longshot Brave Nation in third. Ohio carried high weight of 124 pounds under the handicap conditions, three pounds more than Mugaritz.