Grecian Fire should find the going easier in Joseph T. Grace Stakes

Grecian Fire, coming off two races against much stronger opposition, looms the one to beat Saturday in the $50,000 Joseph T. Grace Stakes for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Grecian Fire was trained by Jerry Hollendorfer up until his last three starts. In his first start for Keith Desormeaux, Grecian Fire won the California Dreamin for statebreds at Del Mar at 1 1/16 miles on turf. His two subsequent starts came in Grade 2 stakes. He finished third, beaten less than a length, in the Del Mar Mile with a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, and then sixth in the John Henry on Sept. 28 at Santa Anita after a slow start and at a 1 1/4-mile distance that may have been longer than he prefers.

The 5-year-old Grecian Fire has won two stakes at Golden Gate – the Alcatraz on turf at 3 and the Grade 3 All American on Tapeta in May.

With a representative effort and his usual late run, Grecian Fire will be tough to hold off in the Grace.

Mugaritz may have the best chance of beating Grecian Fire. Mugaritz has won four straight and is coming off a front-running win in Fresno’s Bull Dog following a six-month layoff. Mugaritz, trained by Jonathan Wong, began his streak with a victory on this course and at the Grace distance in a starter allowance on Dec. 31. That race remains his only start on grass. Mugaritz went on to win a pair of Tapeta allowance races over the winter and the Bull Dog at 1 1/8 miles on dirt on Oct. 13.

Builder ran second to Grecian Fire in the All American in May. He comes off a second in the Rolling Green on the turf here Sept. 2 and a second in a second-level optional claimer on the Tapeta here Sept. 28.

Cafe Flavor and Tortosa both started their year in the Rolling Green, with Cafe Flavor fourth and Tortosa fifth. Tortosa had been off for more than 15 months, since winning the Alcatraz at Golden Gate in May 2018.

Completing the Grace field are Camino Del Paraiso, who makes his second start off a 5 1/2-month layoff; Arch Prince, stepping up in class of a first-level allowance win; Respect the Hustle, beaten 7 3/4 lengths by Mugaritz in the Bull Dog; and Sixes, a front-runner who won for a $32,000 tag on the turf two starts back.

KEY CONTENDERS

Grecian Fire, by Unusual Heat

Last 3 Beyers: 85-98-90

◗ He has been facing by far the strongest company.

◗ There doesn’t appear to be an overload of speed in the race, which could make his job tougher.

Builder, by Gio Ponti

Last 3 Beyers: 83-84-83

◗ He is a stalker and should get a great trip from the rail.

◗ He hit the board in all three of his races over this course.

Mugaritz, by Dialed In

Last 3 Beyers: 88-88-81

◗ He and his Wong-trained stablemate Sixes appear to have the most speed in the race and are drawn in the outside posts. Look for Mugaritz to stalk Sixes and try to hold off Grecian Fire.