Berkeley, Calif. (November 24, 2018)- A duo of exciting stakes races highlighted the Saturday card at Golden Gate Fields. Touched by Autism, trained by Marsha Stortz, pulled off a 13-1 upset in the $50,000 Oakland Stakes, and two races later, 2017 Berkeley Handicap winner Editore successfully defended his title in the 2018 edition.
Touched by Autism, ridden by Juan Hernandez, stalked the pace before surging late to win the Oakland Stakes by a neck. The Oakland, for 3-year-olds and upward, was run at the distance of six furlongs and completed in a final time of 1:09.16. Touched by Autism picked up his first career stakes win with the Oakland Stakes triumph for owner Johnny Taboada. Awesome Anywhere, who went off as the 1-2 favorite after two dominant allowance wins at Santa Anita, stalked the pace and flattened out in the final sixteenth, finishing third. Sunset Dragunn, off at 30-1 odds, set the pace and repelled the challenge of Awesome Anywhere, holding on for second. Touched by Autism has won 8 races from 28 lifetime starts, with 3 seconds and 3 thirds. The son of Sierra Sunset has earned $261,815 in his 28-race career.
In the Grade 3 Berkley Handicap, Editore stalked the pace before outfinishing second place finisher Camino Del Paraiso and third place finisher Flamboyant in a 3-way driving finish. Editore, who won the 2018 Berkeley by a head, earned $60,000 from the $100,000 purse and increased his career earnings to $287,905. Editore has a lifetime record of 5 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds from 21 lifetime starts.
Live racing resumes on Sunday afternoon. First post on the 10-race card is 12:45 PM PT.
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