Editore rallies to Berkeley Handicap victory

ALBANY, Calif. – Everything worked out perfectly for jockey Brice Blanc and Editore ($22.60) in Saturday's Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.

Blanc was able to get a good position midpack in the 14-horse field as Black Tie Event set honest fractions of 23.45 seconds, 48.36, and 1:12.17. Editore began to move up on the turn and was three wide as he closed in on Black Tie Event and G.G. Ryder, who had moved up on the inside. Faced with a decision heading into the lane, Blanc opted to split the two runners.

"I had a split second," he said. "I sensed the leader was tiring and trying to get out, and the horse inside me was done. When I asked, he made a strong move, and the race was over at that point."

The Brazilian-bred Editore, whose first victory in the U.S. had come in his last start on Oct. 15, was never challenged through the lane of the $102,025 1 1/16-mile race. Favored Force made a strong, belated run to be second, beaten 2 1/4 lengths. It was Force's first loss in five starts on the main track and turf course at Golden Gate.

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Camino Del Paraiso wound up third, another half-length back, with Seattle Serenade checking in fourth.

Blanc rode Editore to a sixth-place finish in his U.S. debut at Santa Anita in October 2016, but had not ridden the 5-year-old Redattore gelding in the afternoon since then.

"I liked him the first time I rode him," he said. "He was a little more aggressive then, and he wasn't quite up to the race that day."

Editore was gelded in February, and Blanc has been working the Paulo Lobo-trained runner regularly for the past several months. The Berkeley, over the Tapeta main track at Golden Gate, was Editore’s first race on a surface other than turf, but the change didn't concern Blanc.

"I like the way he travels, and he's been doing everything right in the morning," Blanc said. "I've worked him four or five times, and I've told Paulo how great he's been doing."

Blanc was supposed to ride Editore in his last start, but also had a stakes mount in Canada that day and missed out on both counts when his stakes runner was scratched. On Saturday, a call on a Del Mar runner fell through, and Lobo put him back on Editore.

"If I had been forced to make a decision, I would have wanted to ride him," said Blanc. "I'm glad it worked out."

Editore earned $60,000 for Boone Chance Farm and breeder Stud RDI. The Brazilian Grade1 winner has now earned $113,905 with 4 wins in 15 starts.