Sir Cat Trio Returns in Quick Call Stakes

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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Jack and Noah wins the Sir Cat Stakes at Belmont Park

The top three finishers from the Sir Cat Stakes are slated to face off again in the $100,000 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) July 24 at Saratoga Race Course. Trainer Mark Casse sends out two of them—Sir Cat winner Jack and Noah and show finisher Old Chestnut.

Gary Barber's Jack and Noah is one of eight 3-year-olds—one of whom is for the main track only—entered in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint on the Mellon turf course. The Bated Breath colt led all the way in the Sir Cat June 19 at Belmont Park to win by a length over Turned Aside. That effort followed a May 17 allowance at Churchill Downs in which Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) runner-up Chimney Rock caught him by a head. Sir Cat rider John Velazquez will be back aboard Jack and Noah as he breaks from post 2.

Live Oak Plantation's Old Chestnut brushed the gate at the start of the Sir Cat and rallied to finish two lengths behind his stablemate. The Speightstown  colt is looking for his first win since the Sept. 15 Ontario Racing Stakes at Woodbine. Junior Alvarado will be back aboard in post 4.

Paul Pompa Jr.'s Turned Aside, trained by Linda Rice, was a four-length maiden winner sprinting on Belmont Park's turf Oct. 20 and two starts later won an allowance optional claiming event by 3 1/4 lengths on a yielding grass course at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 27. He returned this season in the Sir Cat and chased Jack and Noah throughout in second. The American Pharoah  colt will break from the outside with regular rider Jose Lezcano.

Rice also entered allowance winner Power Up Paynter.

Jack and Noah will tote 122 pounds, and Old Chestnut and Turned Aside carry 118. The highweight of 124 was assigned to Reddam Racing's Fore Left, who faded from second to ninth in the June 20 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

A multiple stakes winner on dirt and stakes-placed on synthetic, Doug O'Neill-trained Fore Left will shorten back up to sprints in hopes of his first turf win. The Twirling Candy  colt entered the Belmont off a victory in the one-mile UAE Two Thousand Guineas Sponsored by Masdar (G3) Feb. 6 at Meydan. Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 5.

Calumet Farm has a pair entered with trainer Jack Sisterson. Breaking from the rail will be High Cruise with Dylan Davis up. The Bayern  ridgling broke his maiden second time out June 27, drawing off by 7 1/2 lengths on the main track at Thistledown. Flap Jack enters off a four-length allowance win on that same card. At 2, the Oxbow  colt won the Arlington Washington Futurity on synthetic and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 3. Sisterson said the Quick Call could serve as a prep for the Aug. 29 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) on the main track for both sophomores.

Sky of Hook is entered for the main track only.


Entries: Quick Call S. (G3T)

Saratoga Race Course, Friday, July 24, 2020, Race 9

  • Grade IIIT
  • 5 1/2f
  • Turf
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo
  • 5:46 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1High Cruise (KY) Dylan Davis 118 Jack Sisterson 20/1
2 2Jack and Noah (FR) John R. Velazquez 122 Mark E. Casse 1/1
3 3Flap Jack (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 120 Jack Sisterson 12/1
4 4Old Chestnut (FL) Junior Alvarado 118 Mark E. Casse 6/1
5 5Fore Left (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose L. Ortiz 124 Doug F. O'Neill 8/1
6 6Sky of Hook (NY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 118 Rudy R. Rodriguez 8/1
7 7Power Up Paynter (NY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 118 Linda Rice 12/1
8 8Turned Aside (KY) Jose Lezcano 118 Linda Rice 2/1