Call Paul sprints home to win Gulfstream's Swale Stakes

Call Paul sprinted to his third stakes victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park, overcoming a slow break to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Swale Stakes for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs.

The Jason Servis trainee picked up his first graded win in the Saratoga Special (G2) before finishing third in both the Champagne (G1) and the Nashua (G3) in New York. He then faced state-bred competition at Parx and won the Pennsylvania Nursery on Dec. 1.

The Swale marked a return to open company, and bettors sent Call Paul off at 3-2. He didn’t show speed out of the gate, instead settling mid-pack under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Country Singer sped to the lead from the outside and set opening fractions in 21.76 and 44.27.

"I didn’t panic when he broke a step slow. I have a lot of confidence riding (Servis’) horses,” Ortiz said. “I just helped him a little bit to get position. From there I just waited for the moment to go, and when I asked him, he responded really well.”

Call Paul was given the green light around the half-mile point and passed High Crime, Zenden and Frosted Grace ahead of him. Topper T was not far behind, but once once Call Paul hit the front there was no catching him. He pulled clear by 1 1/4 lengths. 

The final time was 1:23.43. Zenden, Topper T and High Crime rounded out the superfecta.

Micahel Dubb purchased Call Paul from the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic Sale as a 2-year-old for $210,000, and he has already surpassed that with $366,920 in earnings. Dubb owns the Friesan Fire colt in partnership with David Simon, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Bruce Irom.

“He’s done really good up to a mile. I don’t know what the owner and trainer want to do, but he’s a nice horse at seven-eighths, a flat mile,” Ortiz added. “Whatever they want to do, I’m going to be happy.”