I'mgonnabesomebody figures to use his speed in Berkeley Handicap

There are some oddities surrounding the day-to-day activity of I’mgonnabesomebody, who starts in Saturday’s Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. For example, I’mgonnabesomebody has not worked since Aug. 25, which is fine with trainer Bill McLean.

“He’s got all his quirks and does what he wants,” McLean said. “Sometimes he jogs two miles and sometimes he turns around and wants to gallop a bit. He trains himself.”

The method is working. I’mgonnabesomebody has won stakes in two of his last four starts and has an excellent chance for another Saturday in the $100,000 Berkeley Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic track.

:: DRF Black Friday Sale: Save 20% on DRF PPs, Clocker Reports, and other handicapping essentials

I’mgonnabesomebody led throughout the Sam Spear Memorial Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Sept. 5 at Golden Gate Fields and in the Joseph Grace Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic track there Nov. 5.

In between those wins, I’mgonnabesomebody was second to frequent rival Freeport Joe in an allowance race in late September at Golden Gate and third after a poor start in the Bull Dog Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt on Oct. 16 at Fresno.

In the Berkeley, I’mgonnabesomebody will be prominent, but could face pressure from the Southern California shippers Rip City and Tulsa Tornado, who are both starting in stakes for the first time.

“That’s the race right there,” McLean said of the pace scenario. “We’ll have to play the break. He doesn’t have to be on the lead.”

I’mgonnabesomebody will start from post 2 in a field of five and will be ridden by regular rider Santos Rivera.

“I wish we had the outside and we could stalk and know what the others are doing,” McLean said. “We have a good chance.”

I’mgonnabesomebody won from a stalking position as recently as July in an allowance race at Pleasanton.

Freeport Joe, trained by Gloria Haley, won the 2021 Berkeley Handicap and has won 4 of 9 starts this year. In the Joseph Grace Stakes, Freeport Joe closed from last in a field of seven to finish second, three-quarters of a length behind I’mgonnabesomebody.

“He comes running,” McLean said of Freeport Joe. “You have to worry about him.”

Lammas, third in the Grace, breaks from the rail in the Berkeley.

Rip City won an allowance race at a mile on turf on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita and will have his synthetic-track debut in the Berkeley.

Tulsa Tornado won a maiden race on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields in September 2021 and was fourth in an allowance race on turf on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita in his first start in nearly a year.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.