His mettle was tested with a class rise and a much faster pace last night at Cal-Expo, but that didn't prevent Berkshire from winning his third race in his last four races.
Prior to starting from Post 3, did driver Steve Wiseman fear the tougher competition, especially the piping-hot Calzone which was looking to sniff out his fourth win in a row?
"The class hike didn't really concern me because he's been trotting pretty good since he got here," stated Wiseman. "I know that Calzone is tough, but I also know my horse can trot home just as much as Calzone, if not more."
After having come away in fourth position into a :29.1 opening quarter and :58.2 opening-half, Wiseman knew he and Berkshire had some time. "I could feel that Calzone wasn't on my back, so that allowed me to sit as long as possible before I had to come with him."
With the field three-eighths of a mile from the finish line, Wiseman knew it was time to pull, especially when Sheilas Dream (driven by Gene Vallandingham) made a break in front of him.
"I was getting ready to pull right there, anyway, because I know Sheilas Dream gaps in the turns."
Moving first-over at the five-eighths-mile marker, then back to the inside just before the midway point of the final-turn, Wiseman and his charge found themselves three lengths off the pace-setting Easter Call (James Kennedy) and the pocket-sitting Jam And Jelly (Luke Plano). Having quickly made up ground at the three-quarter-mile pole -- timed in a speedy 1:26.4 -- Berkshire soon caught the top two to the top of the stretch.
"I knew it was going to be a sprint home between Jam And Jelly and me because I figured the :28.2 third quarter had taken it out of Easter Call."
Moving three-wide for the drive and gaining at the seven-eighths-mile station, Berkshire started to drift out. At the same time, a game Jam And Jelly had taken over the lead.
"Jam And Jelly is always tough and you can't underestimate her, but keep in mind my horse drifted out the last two times and that's the way he's comfortable trotting in the lane, so it didn't really concern me at all. I knew, however, it was going to be a battle between Jam And Jelly and my horse, especially off the trip she got. I just got the better of her right down in the last couple of steps and got her."
Drifting way out in deep-stretch, the four-year-old still surged to the wire to get up ($11.60) by a neck in a lifetime best 1:56.1. Jam And Jelly went down fighting and had to settle for the place honours. Easter Call tried hard and finished third.
"It was a very good race for him especially considering the class hike. Mr. Lingle made a very good purchase when he bought this horse. He's a very nice animal,' finished Wiseman.
Live racing continues at Cal-Expo tonight at 6:20 p.m. (PDT) and tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.
Now on Saturdays, Cal-Expo will offer a reduced 15 per cent takeout rate on both the Early and Late Pick-4 wagers with the Late Pick-4 having a $10,000 gross guaranteed pool.
(With files from Cal-Expo)