Ron Charles and Samuel Gordon's Lammas broke from the inside post position and never left the rail under jockey Kevin Radke, rallying past front-running I'mgonnabesomebody in the stretch to win Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif.
A 5-year-old English-bred import by Heeraat trained by Manuel Badilla, Lammas covered 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic Tapeta surface in 1:42.42 and paid $10.20 as the third choice in the field of five older runners.
I'mgonnabesomebody finished second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, with even-money favorite Freeport Joe third in the field of five. Rip City and Tulsa Tornado completed the order of finish.
I'mgonnabesomebody set all the fractions (:24.01, :48.00, 1:11.58) without significant pressure as Lammas raced in third position for much of the way, in a pocket along the rail as Rip City was to his outside.
When jockey Santos Rivera allowed I'mgonnabesomebody to drift off the rail at the top of the stretch, Radke seized the opportunity, sending Lammas through to vie for the lead, eventually putting his head in front at the furlong pole and gradually drawing clear.
The win was the fifth in 19 career starts for Lammas and second from seven starts in the U.S. The Berkeley weas the gelding's first stake triumph in North America.
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