Abyssinian Seeks Stakes Win in Wide-Open Quick Call

Opening day at Saratoga Race Course is fast approaching, and the $100,000 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) is one of two stakes events on the July 11 card. Eleven 3-year-olds are entered for the 5 1/2-furlong sprint on the Mellon turf course, with one entry listed for the main track only.

Hat Creek Racing's filly Abyssinian has held her own against colts before and is lined up to face them again from the rail in the Quick Call. The daughter of Cairo Prince  faced other fillies in her first three starts, including a seven-length maiden win on a sloppy main track at Belmont Park in May 2018 and a 6 3/4-length victory on Gulfstream Park's turf Feb. 28.

Trainer Wesley Ward tried her against the boys in the April 4 Palisades Turf Sprint Stakes at Keeneland, where she finished third, 3 3/4 lengths behind Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Bulletin. Abyssinian finished second in her latest effort—the May 11 Mamzelle Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

John Velazquez, aboard for Abyssinian's first two starts this season, has the mount again Thursday.

"We took on the boys before at Keeneland, and she was a bit compromised in the race," Ward said. "She hopped at the start, and Johnny rushed her up to get position. She really didn't have that same finish as she did down in Florida, though she was running against much easier company there. I thought she still ran a real credible race against a quality horse, a Breeders' Cup winner.

"She's doing great coming into the race. We're also considering the Coronation Cup, but the Quick Call is very tempting since it's a grade 3 and those opportunities don't come up often for turf sprinters. She's got proven turf sprint form, and I think she's got a chance."

Saratoga's Coronation Cup Stakes for fillies runs July 14.

Michael Dubb, David Simon, Bethlehem Stables, and Bruce Irom's Call Paul and Starlight Racing's Sombeyay, both graded stakes winners, are scheduled for their turf debuts in the Quick Call. 

Jason Servis saddled now dual grade 1 winner World of Trouble to victory in this race a year ago, and he conditioned Call Paul to a win on Saratoga's dirt in the Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2). Call Paul also won the Feb. 2 Swale Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream and has easily handled other Pennsylvania-breds in stakes company. The Quick Call is his first start at this short of a distance since breaking his maiden on debut at 2.

Sombeyay also scored on Saratoga's dirt as a juvenile when he captured the Sanford Stakes (G3) by a neck. He is looking for his first win since and enters off a nose loss in the June 2 Lookin At Lucky Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Other stakes winners entered for the Quick Call are Reddam Racing's Listing, a Southern California shipper who won the June 9 Desert Code Stakes on Santa Anita Park's turf, and Jaime Mejia's Gladiator King, who made the grade in the March 23 Hutcheson Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream.

Entries: Quick Call S. (G3T)

Saratoga Race Course, Thursday, July 11, 2019, Race 9

• Grade IIIT
• 5 1/2f
• Turf
• $100,000
• 3 yo
• 5:51 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Abyssinian (KY)	John R. Velazquez	115	Wesley A. Ward	7/2
2	2Elektronic (NY)	Jose Lezcano	118	Linda Rice	10/1
3	3Gladiator King (KY)	Jose Antonio Gallego	122	Jaime Mejia	8/1
4	4Listing (CA)	Joel Rosario	122	Ben D. A. Cecil	4/1
5	5Mount Travers (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Linda Rice	12/1
6	6Call Paul (PA)	Manuel Franco	124	Jason Servis	5/2
7	7Fully Loaded (FL)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Ralph E. Nicks	20/1
8	8Releasethethunder (KY)	Rider TBA	118	Christophe Clement	8/1
9	9Neverland Rock (GB)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Steven M. Asmussen	20/1
10	10Sombeyay (KY)	Luis Saez	124	Todd A. Pletcher	6/1
11	11Dunph (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Michael J. Maker	15/1