Full field set for John’s Call
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » One often hears there aren’t enough long-distance turf runners around to make carding such races worthwhile. Today’s $100,000 John’s Call Stakes, with a full field of 12 signed on for the 1 5/8-mile marathon– as well as four also-eligibles – would seem to fly in the face of that assertion.
Three of today’s most highly regarded entrants are coming out of a 1 3/8-mile allowance here on the first Saturday of the meet, a race in which they finished within a length of each other. Call Provision won that race and has been tabbed as today’s 3-1 morning-line favorite. The New York-bred son of Lemon Drop Kid has acquitted himself well in a series of 11-12-furlong turf events over the past year. He also sports a 3-1-0 record in five outings over the Saratoga turf.
Rocketry (5-1) finished third in that July 21 allowance, beaten just a half-length for it all. With a solid fourth in the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup (G2) two starts back, the Hard Spun colt has proven he can compete over a distance of ground. Rocketry has allowance wins at 1¼ and 1 3/8 miles.
Patterson Cross (6-1), a close fourth in the aforementioned allowance, suffered a pair of tough beats in a pair of Grade 2 long-distance turf races at Gulfstream in early spring of 2017. In three losses at 10-12 furlongs this year, the 5-year-old Arch horse appeared to have run out of ground. The longer distance of the John’s Call may suit him. Two starts back, Patterson Cross scored in a 1¼-mile allowance at Belmont.
Focus Group (6-1) makes his stakes debut after working his way through his allowance conditions during the spring and early summer. Last out, the 4-year-old Kitten’s Joy colt showed a majorleague kick by coming from far back to win a 1 3/8-mile allowance here on July 30.
Mr Maybe (30-1) won this race two years ago as the odds-on choice. He is winless in 11 starts since and has raced for a tag in all four 2018 outings.
The rest of the John’s Call field consists of Highland Sky (4-1), Gold Shield (8-1), 2016 Man O’ War winner Wake Forest (121), Not in Charge (12-1), Harlan Strong (15-1), Bronson (20-1) and Renown (30-1).