Golden Gate Fields notes: Berkeley a Tapeta test for Teaks North, Stryker Phd

Teaks North is a Grade 1-winning millionaire, and Stryker Phd has never run worse than second in a stakes race. Both will have something in common when they enter the starting gate for the Grade 3, $100,000 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Friday: The 1 1/16-mile race will be the first start for each on a synthetic racing surface.

Neither Eric Guillot, Teaks North’s trainer, nor Margo Lloyd, who trains Stryker Phd, seems concerned about that fact.

Teaks North has earned the great majority of his $1,288,364 on the turf, and Guillot is well aware that turf specialists have enjoyed good success when switching to Golden Gate’s Tapeta surface.

“That was our train of thought,” he said. “We thought he might take to synthetics.”

Although Stryker Phd has never run a race on Tapeta, he trained over the surface here last year before he scored his maiden victory on the turf, and he has five works here this year, handling the surface to Lloyd’s satisfaction.

Stryker Phd had four straight seconds in stakes at Emerald Downs this year, including the Grade 3 Longacres Mile, before winning the Muckleshoot Classic there at Friday’s distance. He ran evenly without threatening in a turf prep here Nov. 1 after seven weeks on the sidelines, but Lloyd said he has been training him with the Berkeley in mind.

Guillot claimed Teaks North for the Southern Equine Stable for $100,000 at Saratoga on Aug. 15, just six weeks after the 6-year-old Northern Afleet gelding placed second in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth.

Guillot said he knew he was taking a gamble by claiming Teaks North, who he said has foot problems.

Teaks North has made two starts for Guillot. He ran fifth in the 1 1/4-mile John Henry at Santa Anita after leading in the stretch. He then set suicide fractions of 46.94 seconds for a half-mile and 1:10.67 for six furlongs before fading in the 1 1/2-mile Breeders’ Cup Turf in his last start.

“He’s a warrior,” said Guillot, who hopes the shorter distance will help.

Six runners were entered in the Berkeley, including Summer Hit, the morning-line favorite who won the Grade 3 All American in May the last time he ran at Golden Gate. He won the Harry F. Brubaker at Del Mar in August.

Debutante looking salty

Saturday’s $50,000-added Golden Gate Debutante is shaping up with a strong field.

Among those expected to run are the undefeated Look Quickly, who won the Juan Gonzalez at Pleasanton, and Miss Success, who ran third against males in the Nov. 9 Golden Nugget.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is considering running both Rever de Vous and Taste Like Candy. Each was impressive winning her only race. Rever de Vous pulled clear in the stretch and earned a 70 Beyer Speed Figure here Nov. 2. Taste Like Candy earned an 85 Beyer at Santa Anita on Oct. 20.

Delia dead heat

Trainer Bill Delia had horses in two races Saturday and came away with three wins. The Delia-trained Fantastic Atticus and Minister Vivendi wound up in a dead heat for the win in an allowance, and Chat With Me won a maiden race for him.

Leaving the winners’ circle Saturday, Delia called the dead heat “crazy fun.”

“I’ve had dead heats with other people, but never by myself,” he said the next day.

Fantastic Atticus went off at 18-1 and paid $19 to win. Minister Vivendi went off at 13-1 and paid $14.20.

And, yes, Delia did a little cashing after the race, collecting on the $58 and $65.50 exactas.

The last same-trainer dead heat at Golden Gate Fields came Nov. 9, 2008, when the Steve Specht-trained Shes a Lucky Wager and Lady Railrider crossed the finish line together.

Specht trained Saturday’s third-place finisher Unusual Meeting, who finished a neck back.

Streak snapped

Trainer A.L. Diaz extended his winning streak to five last Thursday when Pure Trickin won a $4,000 claimer. Two races later, the streak was snapped when Hot Option ran second. Pure Trickin had started the streak for Diaz with a win Oct. 27.

Diaz is ninth in the trainer standings with 6 wins and 2 seconds from 10 starters.

Holiday action

First post at Golden Gate on Thanksgiving Day is 11:15 a.m., with gates opening at 9:30 a.m. (9 a.m. at the Pleasanton simulcast facility).

Fans have some nice carryovers to shoot at Thursday – $34,472.65 in the pick five and $19,033 in the pick six.

On Friday, Golden Gate is giving away a 42-inch high-definition television after each of the nine races on the card.