North/South Showdown in Berkeley at Golden Gate

The $100,000 Berkeley Handicap (G3) at Golden Gate Fields Nov. 27 shapes up as a north/south showdown of California entrants. 

Southern California-stabled invaders Extra Hope  (8-5), Sash  (5-1), and Big Fish  (10-1) take on four locally-based runners, a group led by Camino Del Paraiso  (2-1) and Jungle Cry  (4-1). The seven entries race 1 1/16 miles on Golden Gate's Tapeta surface.

Paradise Road Ranch's Camino Del Paraiso (Suanes) is 5-4-2 in 15 synthetic starts at Golden Gate. Most recently he won the Joseph T. Grace Stakes in a race transferred off the turf and run on the main track Nov. 6.

Trainer O. J. Jauregui has given the mount Saturday to Catalino Martinez.

Legacy Ranch's Big Fish landed in second place in the Joseph T. Grace in his first racing experience on Tapeta at Golden Gate. The versatile David Hofmans-trained son of Mr. Big   is a stakes winner on turf and dirt.

Jay Em Ess Stable's Extra Hope and Rancho Temescal and Red Baron's Barn's Sash move from dirt to synthetic. They have kept demanding company at times, with a small amount of experience in grade 1s.

Comebacking Extra Hope is grade 1-placed and won the Native Diver Stakes (G3) a year ago at Del Mar for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. He has not raced since an eighth-place finish in the San Carlos Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park in March.