Whether Call Paul (Friesan Fire) proves proficient around two turns is a question to be answered somewhere down the line. But for now, the Pennsylvania-bred continues to excel at sprint distances and made it a perfect four-for-four at distances up to one mile, overcoming a bit of a tardy dispatch to best Zenden (Fed Biz) in Saturday's GIII Swale S. at Gulfstream Park. Topper T (Bellamy Road) was a rough-trip third.
Slow into stride from gate five, the 3-2 chalk settled worse than midfield through the opening exchanges as Country Singer (Majesticperfection) crossed his rivals from his widest gate to lead on a fast opening quarter that was up in :21.76. Allowed to improve his position on the backstretch, Call Paul began to warm up to the task with three-eighths of a mile to the finish and was produced four or five wide off the home corner by Irad Ortiz, Jr. High Crime (Violence), the pace-presser for the opening five furlongs, took command when Country Singer called it a day at the three-sixteenths, but by then, Call Paul was working up a full head of steam, hit the front at the furlong pole and edged clear. Zenden held gamely for second, while Tommy T came home nicely once out of the kickback to round out the triple.
“I didn't panic when he broke a step slow. I have a lot of confidence riding [trainer Jason Servis'] horses,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “I just helped him a little bit to get position. From there I just waited for the moment to go, and when I asked him, he responded really well.”
A debut winner at Delaware July 5, defeating future GI Hopeful S. and recent Jerome S. hero Mind Control (Stay Thirsty), Call Paul validated heavy favoritism in the Aug. 12 GII Saratoga Special S. He struggled in two tries over a mile thereafter, filling third spot in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 6. and in the Nov. 4 GIII Nashua S., but he found a soft spot and romped by five in the state-bred restricted Pennsylvania Nursery S. to close the season Dec. 1.
Pedigree Notes:
One of two graded and five black-type winners for his Maryland-based sire, Call Paul is kin to the 2-year-old filly Pink Caddy (El Padrino), a yearling colt by Bullsbay and his dam was most recently bred to Uncle Lino. Third dam Royal Strait Flush was a full-sister to champion Landaluce and produced Jade Flush (Jade Hunter), a Grade II winner who nearly took down the colors of champion and subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Inside Information (Private Account) in the 1995 GI Spinster S.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
SWALE S.-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 2-2, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.43, ft.
1–CALL PAUL, 122, c, 3, by Friesan Fire
1st Dam: Avani Force, by Forestry
2nd Dam: Avani, by Gulch
3rd Dam: Royal Strait Flush, by Seattle Slew
($20,000 Ylg '17 EASOCT; $210,000 2yo '18 EASMAY).
O-Michael Dubb, David Simon, Bethlehem Stables LLC & Bruce
Irom; B-Beatrice Patterson & Vicky Schowe (PA); T-Jason
Servis; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $87,420. Lifetime Record: GISP, 6-4-0-2,
$366,920. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zenden, 120, c, 3, Fed Biz–You Laughin, by Sharp Humor.
($7,500 Ylg '17 KEESEP; $47,000 2yo '18 OBSOPN). O-Pichi
Investments LLC; B-Brent & Beth Harris (KY); T-Victor Barboza,
Jr. $28,200.
3–Topper T, 120, c, 3, Bellamy Road–Des Moines, by Evansville
Slew. O-Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable & Pantofel Stable;
B-Blackoak Farm (IA); T-William I. Mott. $14,100.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2, NK. Odds: 1.50, 8.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: High Crime, Frosted Grace, Seismic Jolt, Chinomado, Hard Belle, Take Command, Country Singer, Jackson.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
