Albany, Calif. (Nov. 26, 2016)– In a well-timed ride by jockey Leslie Mawing, Stryker PhD, got up to win by a head over G. G. Ryder to capture the $100,000 GIII Berkeley Handicap. Trained by Larry Ross, Stryker PhD, rallied from last to first on the stretch to overtake Bronze Star and Southern Freedom; both were on the pace for the first five furlongs, but weakened quickly in the stretch. The 1 and 1/16 mile was completed in 1:43.67. Stryker PhD paid $4.60 and was favored by the betting community as a 13-to-10 shot by race time.
Mawing wasn’t at all surprised by the results. He knew the competition would be tough, but that Stryker PhD was going to produce the winning effort. “We clicked from the beginning. He’s got his own running style. He gives you that big quarter of a mile kick and that is just the way you got to ride him. I was so confident with today because he usually throws his antics prior to the race, sometimes he freezes up and won’t want to load. But this time he was pretty calm, cool, and collected. So I knew he was bringing his game face today. And I was pretty confident once that happened. When the gates opened I knew there was going to be some early speed, but I was patient and waited until he told me. This horse you have to wait for him to tell you. There was one time I came from 20 lengths behind to win the race by 3 lengths,” said Mawing.
Ricardo Gonzalez also gave an impressive effort up to the end, but the wire just couldn’t come soon enough for him.
“He ran so great. I knew the five horse, Stryker PhD, would be coming, so I was just hoping the wire would come up first, but we got caught in the final strides. He really gave me a strong finish,” said Gonzalez.
Trainer Larry Ross, knowing his horse was going to show late per usual, was happy to see him run as quick as he did today and wouldn’t want the excitement any other way. “He’s been a very cool horse and a lot of fun to train. Those closers like him always give you a thrill because you don’t know if they’re going to get there. When you have a closer like him, he just has to get there. Today, that’s about as close as you want it to get,” said Ross.
Dollar Day is every Sunday at Golden Gate Fields with $1Beer, $1 Hot Dog, $1 General Admission, and $1Program. Golden Gate Fields will be running until December 11th. The First Post time Thursday – Sunday is at 12:45 PM.