Call Paul romps to PA Nursery score

Call Paul and jockey Trevor McCarthy cruised in the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes. Photo by Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO.

by Frank Vespe

Call Paul’s promising career had taken a bit of a sidestep in the two starts prior to Saturday afternoon’s tilt in the $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes at Parx Racing.

After starting with two wins, the second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, the two-year-old Friesan Fire colt had been a well-beaten third in his next two, both against graded rivals, in the Grade 1 Champagne and Grade 3 Nashua.

A bit of an easier spot looks to have been just what the doctor ordered for the Jason Servis trainee.

With Trevor McCarthy in the irons, Call Paul made short work of his seven overmatched rivals en route to a facile score to get back on track.

Early on Call Paul was wide while perched just off dueling leaders Splicethemainbrace and Start Cashin through the opening quarter-mile in 22.52 seconds and the initial half in 46.29.

Call Paul, the 1-5 post time favorite, took over at the head of the lane, edged away, and finally drew off to a five-length triumph in 1:25.73 for seven furlongs over a Parx main track rated fast. Longshot Jump for Alex (39-1) rallied for the place, and Splicethemainbrace (7-2) held the show.

Call Paul returned a paltry $2.40 to win, but the $2 exacta, with the longshot underneath, returned $34.40.

Call Paul is out of the winning Forestry mare Avani Force. He was bred in the Keystone State by Beatrice Patterson and Vicky Schowe and is owned by a partnership of Michael Dubb, David Simon, Bruce Irom, and Bethlehem Stables, which paid $210,000 to acquire him at this past May’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic two-year-olds sale.

Call Paul, trained by Jason Servis, now has three wins and $279,500 in earnings from five career starts.