Full Field Assembled for John's Call

Friday’s John’s Call presented by Sportech, a 1 5/8-mile grass event for horses who have not won a graded turf stakes in 2011, attracted a full field of 12, including Lothenbach Stables’ Bearpath, who was second by a nose to the filly Keertana two starts back in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs on May 28.

Second in last year’s Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational at the Spa, Bearpath was sixth in his most recent start, the Grade 1 Man o’ War at Belmont Park on July 9. Ridden by Freddie Lenclud for trainer Ian Wilkes, Bearpath will leave from post 4 as the 4-1 morning-line second choice.

Dark Cove, trained by Ken McPeek for owner Joseph Englehart, has returned to the Eastern time zone following a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup over the all-weather on July 9. Two starts back, he was third, beaten two lengths, in the Colonial Turf Cup on June 18.  Manoel Cruz will ride Dark Cove, the third choice on the morning line at 5-1, from post 9.

The John’s Call will be the second start in the United States and seventh overall for Sanagas, a lightly raced 5-year-old trained by Graham Motion for Andreas Jacobs. Winner of three handicap races in Germany , Sanagas was seventh in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap on July 9. Sanagas, 12-1 on the morning line, will have the services of jockey Rajiv Maragh from post 7.

From the rail out, the field also includes Kindergarden Kid, Followmyfootsteps, Romp, Bold Hawk, Simmard, Memorial Maniac, Viscount, Center Divider, and Afleet Again.