Bettor Trip Nick relaxes on the lead in Gold Rush Stakes

It was not surprising to see odds-on favorite Bettor Trip Nick ($3.60) setting the the pace in the $76,200 Gold Rush at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

After all, he'd just won the six-furlong Golden Nugget in front-running style while earning an 81 Beyer and had run a 21-and-change opening quarter in four prior career starts.

But when co-owner/trainer Bill Delia saw a 24.08-second opening quarter, he began smiling. When he saw a 48.34 half-mile fraction, the smile broadened into a grin.

“I was loving every second of it,” he said of watching Catalino Martinez keeping the Boat Trip gelding relaxed as he glided along on the lead.

“It was awesome,” Delia said. “It was unbelievable. He'd never gone 48 before [in a race].”

Delia and partners Gary Oetman and Ray Pagano purchased Bettor Trip Nick and two other 2-year-olds who have yet to start after seeing them at the Running Horse Equine Training Center.

“He was always leading the pack with the other babies,” Delia said of Bettor Trip Nick.

He's been leading the pack on the track, too.

Delia told Martinez, who has ridden Bettor Trip Nick in all four of his career victories, that he should go for the lead but not to push too hard if someone wanted it.

“Nobody went,” said Delia.

Jedi Knight tried to go early with Bettor Trip Nick, but Martinez assumed the lead without asking his mount.

“He never really moved on him until the eighth pole,” said an approving Delia.

Sacred Rider was second after the opening half and remained in that position the rest of the race, making up a little ground late to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Music Icon closed nicely late to run third, another 1 1/4 lengths behind Sacred Rider. The final time for a mile was 1:38.92.

Bettor Trip Nick earned $45,000 for the victory, winding up his 2-year-old campaign with four wins and a second and $110,180 in earnings.