Berkeley, Calif. – 5-year-old gelding Bettor Trip Nick went to the lead, established a clear advantage down the backstretch and went on score a front running victory in the feature race on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields, the $75,000 El Dorado Shooter Stakes for California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and upward.
Under winning jockey Brayan Pena, Bettor Trip Nick was sent hard for speed, set sharp fractions of 21.98 44.50 and 56.70 on the lead, and finished strong to the wire to get the job done in a final time of 1:09.46 seconds for 6 furlongs. The son of Boat Trip paid $5.00 to win, $4.00 to place and $2.80 to show.
Bettor Trip Nick hit the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Southern California shipper Riding With Dino, who completed the exacta. Grey-gelding Psycho Dar rounded out the top 3 placings, followed by Cool Mountain Lad, I’ll Stand Taller and In Our A. Riding With Dino paid $5.80 to place and $3.60 to show, with Psycho Dar returning $2.60 to show.
Bettor Trip Nick is already a multiple stakes winner on the Tapeta. As a 2-year-old in 2019, he won the Golden Nugget and Gold Rush Stakes over the Golden Gate main track synthetic. With his third career stakes win in the books, Bettor Trip Nick improved his lifetime record to 7 wins, 2 seconds and 3 third place finishes with career earnings of $271,630. Bettor Trick Nick was bred in California by Running Horse Equine Training Center and is owned by Gary Oetman and Ray Pagano. Leading Northern California trainer Jonathan Wong conditions the 2022 El Dorado Shooter Stakes winner.
Live racing resumes at Golden Gate on Sunday with a 9-race card. Golden Gate also offers a Presidents Day Monday program, with first post on both days at 12:45 PM.
Golden Gate Field Press Office
Photo: Bettor Trip Nick wins the El Dorado Shooter Stakes/Vassar Photo
