Burg Berg gets job done in Swingtime with late surge

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Burg Berg won the first stakes of her career in Sunday’s $59,150 Swingtime Stakes at Hollywood Park’s Oak Tree meet despite appearing beaten in early stretch.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Burg Berg ($4) stalked pacesetter Briecat for the first six furlongs, but was joined in pursuit of the leader by Oui Say Oui and Ruffled Feathers at the top of the stretch. Burg Berg trailed Briecat by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining when she was making minimal progress on closing the margin.

Through the final sixteenth, Burg Berg surged and won the one-mile turf race by a half-length in 1:34.78.

“She showed a big kick in the end,” Bejarano said.

Briecat held second, three-quarters of a length ahead of 21-1 Value Stream. Ruffled Feathers and Oui Say Oui completed the order of finish.

Burg Berg, 4, has won 4 of 16 starts and $226,654. Owned by breeders John and Cheryl Toffan and trained by Paco Gonzalez, Burg Berg was second in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Mile and restricted Osunitas Stakes earlier this year. In her most recent start prior to Sunday’s race, Burg Berg was fourth in the restricted Adoration Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 5.

The Swingtime was restricted to fillies and mares who had not won a first-place purse of $50,000 or more this other than in statebred races.