Stryker Phd Gets Up Late to Win Berkeley
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Photo: Shane Micheli/ Vassar Photography
Stryker Phd and jockey Leslie Mawing win the Berkeley
Jim and Mona Hour's Stryker Phd got up in the final stride to put a head in front of G. G. Ryder to win the $100,000 Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields Nov. 26.
Over 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track, the even-money favorite Stryker Phd raced at the back of the five-horse field, while Southern Freedom and Bronze Star battled on the front end, setting fractions of :24.03, 48.11, and 1:12.21 through six furlongs. Circling the field four wide into the far turn, the 7-year-old gelding drove down the middle of the stretch under jockey Leslie Mawing and closed on a driving G. G. Ryder to hit the wire first in 1:43.67.
G. G. Ryder finished second, with Tamarando, one of three Jerry Hollendorfer trainees, in third. Southern Freedom and Bronze Star rounded out the order of finish.
Trained by Larry Ross, the Washington-bred son of Bertrando—Striking Scholar, by Smart Strike, now has a record of 11-5-6 from 27 starts, with $619,841 in earnings.
He entered the race off a 5 3/4-length score in the Aug. 28 WA Cup Muckleshoot Tribal Classic Stakes for Washington-breds at Emerald Downs. The Berkeley is his third graded win, after taking both the 2014 and 2015 editions of the Longacres Mile Handicap (gr. III) at Emerald.
Bred by Char Clark Thoroughbreds and Todd Havens, the gelding was purchased for $45,000 by Mona Hour at the 2010 Washington Thoroughbred Breeders' Association yearling and mixed sale.
Stryker Phd paid $4.60, $3.40, and $2.60 across the board. G. G. Ryder returned $5.40 and $3.80, while Tamarando paid $4.80.