Golden Gate Fields: Summer Hit on best surface for Berkeley Handicap

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer knows one thing for sure about Summer Hit, who is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in Friday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. He loves synthetic surfaces.

He has four wins, including a victory in the Grade 3 All American in May, and a second in five starts on the Tapeta here. His overall record on synthetics in 5-1-1 in 7 starts, including a victory in the Harry F. Brubaker at Del Mar this summer.

“I’m not sure why,” said Hollendorfer when asked for a reason the 4-year-old Bertando gelding does so well on the synthetics. “I don’t think the fact he began his training on the surface is the reason.”

Summer Hit likes the front end, but he’ll be challenged6 for the lead in the Berkeley by Majestic City, who is drawn just outside him in post 6 in the field of six 3-year-olds and up for the 1 1/16-mile race. Majestic City, the 2-1 second choice, is coming off a front-running score in the Oct. 31 Big Bear at Santa Anita.

Hollendorfer notes that others have tried to test Summer Hit early and have often paid a price. He also points to victories where Summer Hit has been headed briefly during the race and still won, which is what happened in the Brubaker.

Summer Hit is trying to sweep Golden Gate’s two main-track graded stakes this year and was beaten only a neck by Tigah in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf here this spring. Leading jockey Russell Baze, who has 4 wins and 2 seconds in 6 starts with Summer Hit, will ride.

Although the 4-year-old Majestic City is coming off a win and has run well on synthetics, his victory in the Big Bear was his first win since his 2-year-old campaign.

Fire With Fire is 2 for 2 in Northern California excursions this summer, having won the Joseph Grace on the turf at Santa Rosa in wire-to-wire style and then the Bull Dog at Fresno on a disqualification.

Teaks North, claimed for $100,000 this summer by trainer Eric Guillot, will be shortening up from an 11th-place finish in the 1 1/2-mile Breeders’ Cup Turf as well as making his debut on a synthetic surface. He shouldn’t mind shortening up, having won the Sunshine Millions Turf at 1 1/8 miles in February.

Stryker Phd, also making his synthetic debut, had four straight seconds in Emerald Downs stakes this summer, including in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile, before winning the Muckleshoot Classic at Friday’s 1 1/16-mile distance.

Administer, third to Summer Hit in the All American and second in the six-furlong Oakland in his last start, would appreciate a contested pace to set up his late kick.