Lammas Scores First Stakes in G3 Berkeley 

November 28, 2022

Vassar Photography

Matt Dinnerman/Golden Gate Fields

BERKELEY, Calif.—The Great-Britain bred Lammas became America’s newest graded stakes winner in the marquee race of the day at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, the $100,000 Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap for 3-year-olds and upward at one mile and a sixteenth. Lammas was sent off as the 4-1 third choice in a field of five.

Lammas, who broke from the inside post, stalked the pace from the inside and was on a snug hold throughout the first three-quarters of the race. On both the first turn and far turn runs, Lammas sat in a pocket, inside of horses, and appeared to have plenty of horse as the field approached the turn for home. A seam opened on the rail in upper stretch, Lammas pushed forward and took the lead approaching the sixteenth pole and inched away for a length and one-quarter victory under winning rider Kevin Radke. Lammas completed the 8.5 furlongs on Tapeta in 1:42.42 seconds.

Lammas returned $10.20 to win, $4.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Runner up finisher I’mgonnabesomebody paid $3.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Berkeley Handicap defending champion Freeport Joe was sent off as the even money post time favorite in the 2022 edition and had to settle for third. He paid $2.10 to show. Southern California shippers Rip City and Tulsa Tornado completed the order of finish.

Lammas was bred in Great Britain by Peter Onslow. The 4-year-old gelding by Heeraat began his career overseas and won three handicap races in his first dozen races. After lifetime start number twelve, he was sold at the Tattersalls Guineas Sale of 2022 and purchased by current owners Ron Charles and Sam Gordon for $55,327. Lammas picked up a $60,000 check for his win in the Grade 3 Berkeley and has earned $126,688 since beginning his career in January of 2021. Lammas sports five career wins, with three seconds and three third place finishes from 19 lifetime starts. All five career victories have come over synthetic surfaces.

The Berkeley Handicap was the second of two stakes races at Golden Gate this week. On Friday, 2-year-old filly Sally’s Sassy earned her first lifetime stakes trophy in the $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante for 2-year-old fillies. A Kentucky-bred by West Coast, Sally’s Sassy is owned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC and trained by Jonathan Wong. Jockey William Antongeorgi III was aboard the $190,000 2-year-old in training purchase.

@jonathanstettin Thank you. This is a truly beautiful tribute to a racing legend. Good to hear the true story of what happened that day.

MargaretR (@RurakMarge) View testimonials

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