Speedy Golden Pal Returns in Quick Call at Saratoga

Irad Ortiz Jr. will wear different colors but carry similarly high expectations aboard turf sprinter Golden Pal  in the $120,000 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) on opening day at Saratoga Race Course July 15.

The speedy Uncle Mo   3-year-old, racing for the first time for the Coolmore-affiliated Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg after a private purchase, makes his seasonal debut as the 1-2 morning-line favorite in a 5 1/2-furlong turf dash. Two runners in the nine-horse field, Fire Sword  and Mr Sippi , will race only if the Quick Call is transferred off the turf due to wet weather.

As of afternoon July 14, the weather forecast called for clearing skies Thursday after early and mid-week rain. 

The role as the public choice is familiar for Golden Pal, who last year won the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) at Keeneland at short prices for former owner and breeder Randall Lowe. Wesley Ward, who started the colt all four times last year, continues to train.

Golden Pal has posted a series of turf breezes over the past month leading up to his first start since last fall's Breeders' Cup. These works followed ankle surgery to remove a chip in a front ankle. 

"He's doing really well. We're excited about him," said Ward. "I think he'll be the best horse I ever had, but we'll see if it comes out that way. He does things in the mornings that are just so impressive. He's just an immensely talented horse, and we're looking forward to getting his season started here at Saratoga on opening day. Hopefully, that leads into the Breeders' Cup (Turf Sprint, G1T) at the end of the year."

This year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint is Nov. 6 at Del Mar over five furlongs, a distance well suited to Golden Pal's strength—his speed.

That speed was on display in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last year when he quickly opened up an early advantage, only to resent restraint, before speeding away once again under Ortiz.

The Quick Call could serve as a prep for an overseas excursion for the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) Aug. 20 at York Racecourse.

Ward also entered Silverton Hill's Fire Sword, a three-time winner, all on dirt.

Bryan Hilliard's Second of July  will look to rebound for trainer Phil Gleaves after off-the-board finishes in his last two starts. 

The Jack Milton   gelding scored first out last September at odds of 68-1 in a six-furlong inner turf sprint at Belmont Park and repeated at 15-1 odds in the Futurity Stakes (G3T) a month later. He then finished 12th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to close out his 2-year-old season, before having a troubled trip in a June 12 allowance optional claiming comeback, where he ran seventh after getting jostled at the start.

Another stakes winner in the lineup is West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner's Jaxon Traveler , a Munnings   colt trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. He has not raced on turf but is a four-time winner on dirt and placed in the June 20 Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine in his first try on the synthetic Tapeta surface there. 

His dam, the After Market  mare Listen Boy , won on grass and has produced a pair of multiple turf winners from four foals to race.

Kentucky Pharoah , Omaha City , Fauci , and Rebel Posse  round out the field.