Renown looking to regain Secretariat Stakes form
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Long distance turf racing is fascinating, and Wednesday’s John’s Call Stakes is just that.
An interesting group of seven older horses is assembled for the $100,000 event at 1 5/8 miles on turf.
The race is named for the winner of the Sword Dancer Handicap in 2000 at 1 ½ miles, trained by the late Tom Voss.
His daughter Elizabeth is the trainer of two members of the field, Renown and Mr. Singh, both owned by Merriebelle Stable with Julien Leparoux on the former and Chris DeCarlo on the latter.
Renown need only return to the form that saw him win the Secretariat Stakes at 1 ½ miles at Great Meadow in Virginia in his seasonal debut on May 6.
He subsequently made no impact in the Grade 1 Belmont Gold Cup and Cape Henlopen in his next two outings.
Mr. Singh, a Group 3 winner at this distance in Great Britain two years ago, was second in the Secretariat and fifth in the Cape Henlopen, con-
tested on July 8 at Dela- ware Park.
Infinite Wisdom and Red Rifle are likely to vie for favoritism in the John’s Call.
Infinite Wisdom has turned in four solid races this year in turf marathons without a win, and perhaps this is his breakthrough event.
He exits a head loss in an upper level allowance at Saratoga on opening day at 1 3/8 miles, or 11 furlongs.
Red Rifle has gone two years without a victory, but that does not in any way disqualify him from being a serious contender here.
He has kept very good company, including an appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf two years ago at Keeneland.
Trainer Todd Pletcher brings him to the John’s Call off a second in the Alydar Handicap on dirt on Aug. 6.
Nessy, trained by Ian Wilkes, captured a 12-furlong allowance at Churchill Downs on June 24 while being forwardly placed all the way.
He was most recently sixth in an optional claiming event at Saratoga at 11 furlongs on July 29.
Completing the field are Montclair, a recent claim by trainer George Weaver, and St. Louie, winner of an optional claiming event at Belmont Park on Jun 8 at 11 furlongs.
The John’s Call is for non-winners of a graded stakes race on turf in 2017.
The race is named for the winner of the Sword Dancer Handicap in 2000 at 1 ½ miles, trained by the late Tom Voss.