Mugaritz, Camino Del Paraiso rematched in Joseph T. Grace Stakes

A rematch of one of 2019’s most exciting races is on tap Saturday as Mugaritz and Camino Del Paraiso square off in the $50,000 Joseph T. Grace at Golden Gate Fields.

Mugaritz edged Camino Del Paraiso by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up last year. The victory was Mugaritz’s fifth straight, a streak that reached six when he won the Grade 3 Berkeley in his next start for his third straight stakes win.

But Mugaritz hasn’t raced this year, while Camino Del Paraiso is coming off a victory in the Rolling Green, which also is run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Golden Gate.

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Mugaritz has seven works for his comeback, including six furlongs in 1:13.20 over the Golden Gate Tapeta in his last drill, and trainer Jonathan Wong wishes he had another work for the 5-year-old gelding. Still he has confidence Mugaritz will run well.

“He’s training really good,” Wong said. “His last work was his best.”

Camino Del Paraiso has hit the board in 6 of 7 starts this year, including seconds in a pair of Grade 3 stakes at Santa Anita during winter, the Thunder Road and the San Luis Rey. He also was third at Golden Gate in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile in June.

Camino Del Paraiso clipped heels and lost his rider in the California Dreamin’ Stakes at Del Mar in July, but he rebounded with a one-length score in the Rolling Green.

Trainer O.J. Jauregui said he has pointed Camino Del Paraiso to the Joseph T. Grace since that Sept. 7 victory. After Saturday’s race, Camino Del Paraiso and Mugaritz might meet again over the Golden Gate main track in the Grade 3 Berkeley Stakes on Nov. 28.

While Mugaritz and Camino Del Paraiso are the headliners in the Grace, they have plenty of opposition.

Give Me the Lute is coming off a front-running win at the distance on the turf in a second-level allowance race at Golden Gate. Fuente stalked the pace in Give Me the Lute’s win and ended up 1 3/4 lengths back in second. Give Me the Lute is on the rail for the Grace, with Fuente next to him in post 2.

Navy Armed Guard was third in the Rolling Green and comes off a second-level allowance win on the main track at Golden Gate. Love and Peace went wire to wire in a second-level allowance on the Golden Gate turf on Sept. 24.