Force, Black Tie Event go at it again in Berkeley Handicap

Trainers John Martin and Anthony Stabile have two things in common going into Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. Both are gunning for their first graded-stakes victory, and both like their chances.

Martin trains Force, who has never lost at Golden Gate Fields. He’s 2 for 2 on the turf course and also 2 for 2 on the main track, including a 2 1/2-length victory Oct. 29 over Black Tie Event, who is Stabile’s runner in the Berkeley.

Black Tie Event has run second in both starts since arriving here for the fall meet.

Stabile claimed Black Tie Event for $7,500 on July 5.

“People didn’t realize what his key was,” said Stabile. “He’s a free-running horse. It makes it a lot easier for me and the jockey. My horse is going to the front.”

Black Tie Event drew post 13 in the field of 14 3-year-olds and up, but should be able to get over to save ground before the first turn in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta event.

Stabile came west this fall from Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania, which also has a Tapeta main track. Stabile likes Golden Gate’s surface better for Black Tie Event.

“This track seems to be a little bit hard, but I mean that in a good way,” he said. “Presque Isle’s surface gets loose.”

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Force defeated Black Tie Event going a mile, and now he gets an extra sixteenth to catch him.

“I’ve been training him my way, and he seems to have gotten better,” said Martin. “I really don’t know the reason why, whether it’s the company or the surface. He’s a professional.”

Force and Black Tie Event will have to contend with rivals such as Hard Aces, who has run exclusively in graded stakes this year , winning the Grade 3 Tokyo City at Santa Anita in April and finishing third in the Grade 2 Marathon at Del Mar on Breeders’ Cup Friday in his last start; G. G. Ryder, who has been in the top three in 16 of his 18 starts at Golden Gate and won the Grade 3 All American in May the last time he raced on the Tapeta here; and Editore, who won an optional claimer on the turf at Santa Anita five weeks ago.

Berkeley Handicap (race 7)

Key contenders

Black Tie Event, by Distorted Humor

Last 3 Beyers: 80-73-86

◗ May have to battle for the lead with Dixie Pistol, who breaks from post 2.

Force, by Raven’s Pass

Last 3 Beyers: 84-84-95

◗ He has won 3 of his last 4, including the Rolling Green here in September on the turf, which may be his best surface.

◗ Martin has been saddling winners at a 30 percent rate this year, and 24 of his 36 starters this meet have finished in the top three.

Hard Aces, by Hard Spun

Last 3 Beyers: 89-100-94

◗ He won the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa anita in 2015, and has earned more than $1.2 million.