Eight confirmed for Berkeley Handicap

Stryker Phd, the 122-pound highweight after winning three straight stakes at Emerald Downs, including the Grade 3 Longacres Mile, and then running second in a Santa Anita stakes, tops the list of eight runners confirmed for Sunday’s Berkeley Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Golden Gate Fields.

Also confirmed are G. G. Ryder (118), Mr. Bowling (120), and Pepper Crown (121), who ran 1-2-3 in an allowance here Nov. 13; Are You Kidding Me (117); Marino’s Wild Cat (116); Bellarmine (115); and Polytechnicien (115).

Local trainers Cliff DeLima (Marino’s Wild Cat) and Gil Matos (Polytechnicien) recognize that they may be entering longshots, but both feel their runners are live. Marino’s Wild Cat is a speedy sprinter who has never routed before.

“You never know if they can run long until they run long,” said DeLima. “He’s bred to go that far.”

DeLima expects Marino’s Wild Cat, who gallops two miles a day, to be on the lead but said his 5-year-old gelding will relax up front.

Although he’s 8, Polytechnicien, who was purchased for $17,000 at the Barretts mixed sale in January, is at the top of his game since trainer Doug O’Neill sent him to Matos. He’s won three straight, twice here and once back at Santa Anita, but he’ll be making his debut on Tapeta.

“He trains well on it,” said Matos. “He just likes Tapeta, and it’s keeping him sound. As soon as he got up here, he seemed to turn things around. He’s 8 but acts like he’s 3.”