Lammas hits stride in Grade III victory
Saturday’s Grade III $100,000 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields looked a lot like the Nov. 5 Joseph T. Grace Stakes for much of the 11⁄16-mile race on the Tapeta Footings synthetic surface.
But unlike the previous race, when he finished third behind pacesetting winner I’ m gonna be somebody and wide-rallying runner-up Freeport Joe, Lammas found ample room on the rail at the top of the stretch and went on to win by 1¼ lengths.
I’ m gonna be somebody set the pace again and held second by a half-length over Freeport Joe, who was forced to go around his four opponents to launch his late run.
The Tapeta wasn’t as fast or speed-favoring Saturday as it was Nov. 5, when I’m gonna be somebody set a track record of 1:41.95 after running the first quarter-mile in 23.48 seconds and the half-mile in 46.97.
I’ m gonna be somebody went 24.01 and 48.00 Saturday while maintaining a 1-length lead over Rip City down the backstretch. Lammas ran in third place inside of Rip City and behind I’m gonna be somebody and even dropped back to fourth entering the second turn as jockey Kevin Radke waited to turn him loose.
“I was in trouble almost the whole way, just like last time,” Radke said. “Then we had a little opportunity to get through and he got through. I had a ton of horse, but I needed to sit there comfortably and keep him relaxed. Then he really finished.”
Lammas hit the wire in 1:42.42 for his fifth win in 18 starts, and he paid $10.20 as the 4-1 third betting choice behind evenmoney Freeport Joe and 3-1 I’m gonna be some body.
A British-bred 5-year-old gelding, Lammas began his career running on synthetic surfaces in his native England, winning two of six starts last winter and spring. Then he was purchased by Ron Charles and Samuel Gordon, who have benefited from many such transactions over the years.
His first two American races came in allowance events at Del Mar in Southern California, and he finished fourth on turf and sixth on dirt. Badilla brought Lammas to Golden Gate Fields, where he finished fifth on turf before winning on Tapeta on Sept. 17. He finished fourth in the Bull Dog Stakes on dirt at the Big Fresno Fair prior to the Joseph T. Grace Stakes.
“He loves the Tapeta,” Badilla said. “He’s better on it than turf or dirt.”
One problem for a Tapeta lover like Lammas and even Freeport Joe is the dearth of local races like the Berkeley Handicap. The only other six-figure stakes event run on Tapeta is the All American Stakes at the end of May. In the meantime, racing secretary Steve Martinelli offers $33,000 open allowance events.
Of course, there are stakes opportunities on Tapeta at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada and Gulfstream Park in Florida.
“There’s Florida, that comes to mind,” Badilla said. “I’m sure Ron and Sam will be thinking about what to do now.”