Call Me George Pulls New Orleans 'Cap Upset
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Call Me George wore down Albano and favorite Moreno late in the $400,000 New Orleans Handicap (gr. II), engineering a 22-1 upset that provided jockey James Graham a milestone win March 28 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots .
Closing from fifth in early stretch, Call Me George stormed down the center of the track and was up in time for a half-length win from the battling front-runners. Moreno, the 6-5 favorite, led in the final sixteenth, but 3-1 second choice Albano got his head in front in the shadow of the post to take second.
Graham enjoyed his 2,000th career win aboard Call Me George, a former claimer who captured his first stakes win in Saturday's upset while snapping a five-race winless streak dating from an allowance/optional claiming win last July at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
Graham had Call Me George perfectly positioned in fourth as early pacesetter Go Go Rocket clocked fractions of :23.48 and :47.57 through a half mile, with Albano and Moreno chasing from second and third. That pair moved to the front around the far turn and matched strides through the stretch, with Moreno getting visibly leg weary. Call Me George closed with powerful strides and was best at the finish.
Trainer Grant Forster claimed Call Me George for $65,000 out of a seventh-place finish last May at Churchill Downs. Since then, the 5-year-old son of Point Given has placed third in two stakes: the Homecoming Classic Stakes in September at Churchill and to Red Rifle in Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (gr. II) in November at Hawthorne Race Course. He also was third in his start leading up to the New Orleans Handicap—going 1 1/16 miles in an optional claiming race March 1 at Fair Grounds—and delivered breakthrough under the guidance of Graham, who was riding Call Me George for the first time.
"He's a good old horse and he has tried so hard against very tough company," said Graham, a native of Dublin who began his career in Ireland and scored his first U.S. win in 2003.
"It's has been great (getting 2,000) wins," Fair Grounds' meet-leading rider continued. "Thanks to Grant for putting me on this horse."
Call Me George was timed in 1:51.07 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast track and improved his career line to 6-3-6 from 23 career starts and earnings of $415,621. He is campaigned by Clint Joiner, Matthew Bond, and Jim Curry.
Call Me George, at 114 pounds while getting seven from highweight Moreno and three from Albano, returned $46.40, $15.20, and $5.20. Albano brought $4.20 and $3, and Moreno paid $2.40 to show.
Afford finished fourth, followed by Red Rifle, One King's Man, Indycott, and Go Go Rocket to complete the order of finish.
Call Me George was bred in Kentucky by Margaux Farm and Barry Irwin. His dam is Chimes Band's multiple stakes-winning daughter Sassy Chimes, and his second dam is a half sister to Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Silent Beauty,from the family of multiple grade I winner Hollywood Story.