By Joe Bianca
Michael Dubb, David Simon, Bruce Irom and Bethlehem Stables' Call Paul (Friesan Fire) earned his signature victory last summer at Saratoga in the GII Saratoga Special S., and he returns to the Spa on opening day this year, only it'll be on the lawn as the morning-line favorite in the GIII Quick Call S., his turf debut.
Third in the GI Champagne S. and GIII Nashua S. after his Saratoga Special heroics, the $210,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic buy was an easy winner of the state-bred Pennsylvania Nursery S. before obliging as the favorite in the GIII Swale S. in his sophomore bow. Unable to make an impact when third in the GIII Bay Shore., he showed improved speed with blinkers added in his last two, running second in the Gold Fever S. May 12 at Belmont and annexing the Pennsylvania-bred Danzig S. June 1 at Penn National.
Hat Creek Racing's Abyssinian (Cairo Prince) breaks from the rail as the race's lone filly. A seven-length victress as a juvenile last spring, the gray was laid up for over nine months, but returned with a 6 3/4-length romp in her turf bow Feb. 28 at Gulfstream. Third against the boys in the Palisades Turf Sprint S. Apr. 4 at Keeneland, she was runner-up as the favorite in the Mamzelle S. last out May 11 at Churchill and shows a five-furlong bullet work in :59 2/5 (1/5) June 30 in Lexington.
The hard-trying Gladiator King (Curlin) looks for his fourth stakes victory and first on grass. Scoring in his initial two turf tries last fall at Gulfstream West, the chestnut annexed the Inaugural S. Dec. 15 back on dirt at Tampa and was third at 16-1 in the turfy Texas Glitter S. four starts later Feb. 23 at Gulfstream. Fading to last after chasing a sizzling pace seven days later in the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S., he upset the GIII Hutcheson S. at 12-1 Mar. 23 and repeated in the Roar S. Apr. 20. Taking a tough beat when second by a head in the GIII Chick Lang S. May 18 at Pimlico, he retreated to be fifth in the Ocala S. last out June 1 in Hallandale.
Starlight Racing's Sombeyay (Into Mischief) is another graded stakes winner from last summer at Saratoga who makes his turf bow here. Capturing the GIII Sanford S. as a juvenile, the bay comes in off a nose second when earning a career-high 87 Beyer in the Lookin At Lucky S. June 2 at Monmouth.
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