ALBANY, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2014) – Swung six wide into the stretch, lightly regarded California-bred Pepper Crown uncoiled a torrid outside rally and won the $100,315 Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) (VIDEO) going away as the longest shot in the field Nov. 30 at Golden Gate Fields.
With Juan Hernandez riding for owner-breeder-trainer Alex Paszkeicz, 15-1 hope Pepper Crown tallied his third stakes win of the year at the Bay Area track, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over the Tapeta all-weather track from G. G. Ryder.
A 4-year-old Peppered Cat colt out of Crown This Lady, by Crowning Storm, Pepper Crown won the San Francisco Mile (gr. IIIT) at 46-1 odds over yielding turf in April and the Rolling Green Stakes over firm turf at 10-1 in September. The California-bred came in off a third to G. G. Ryder in a one-mile allowance Nov. 13 at Golden Gate but that rival could not match the surging winner on Sunday.
“At the quarter pole I started asking my horse and he responded very well,” said Hernandez. “He’s better outside when it comes to passing horses. He surprised me. He surprised everyone. He has a big heart.”
Stryker Phd, the 7-5 favorite who won three stakes at Emerald Downs during the summer including the Longacres Mile (gr. III), split horses in the stretch drive after racing in last place through the first half mile. He appeared poised to go on but was out-kicked by the top two.
The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.74.
Pepper Crown settled toward the back of the eight-horse field as Everton and Marino’s Wild Cat vied for command while clocking fractions of :24.87, :49.66, and 1:14.54 through six furlongs. Mr. Bowling, who tracked from fourth early on, challenged in midstretch and briefly poked his head in front.
After trailing the field for a half mile, Stryker Phd entered the fray between rivals but Pepper Crown was full of run after angling wide off the turn. He bid six deep under strong handling by Hernandez, hitting the front late to get the win as G. G. Ryder pursued in vain.
“This horse ran farther than anybody else and he still won,” said Paszkeicz. “He’s a good horse, he feels great and he loves to run. I thought at the start of the year that he could do well in all these races. Maybe this will get more people interested in breeding to (sire) Peppered Cat.”
Pepper Crown has an 8-3-3 career line from 18 career starts. The $60,000 winner’s share of the Berkeley purse increased his lifetime bankroll to $303,787.
Under 121 pounds, Pepper Crown paid $33.40, $15, and $6, while 8-1 shot G. G. Ryder, under 118, returned $8 and $5. Stryker Phd, the 122-pound highweight, paid $2.60 to show.
Mr. Bowling faded to fourth and was followed by Marino’s Wild Cat, Bellarmine, Polytechnicien, and Everton.
For Pepper Crown’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/pepper+crown