Asymmetric will try to keep energy in reserve for finish of Quick Call Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Wesley Ward vows Asymmetric will be ridden differently in Sunday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga than he was in the Paradise Creek Stakes at Belmont Park in May when he tries to turn the tables on Big Invasion in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds.

In the Paradise Creek, a seven-furlong turf race, Asymmetric ran off to a six-length lead while running a first quarter in 21.87 seconds under Irad Ortiz Jr. While he fought on for second, Asymmetric was no match for Big Invasion, who swept by him in the stretch for a 3 1/4-length victory, his fourth consecutive win.

Ward said that front-running style was not how Asymmetric was ridden in Europe. He won three of six starts there, including a Group 2 stakes at Goodwood last July.

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“If you watch his races from Europe, they’re anchoring him in the gate, he throws his head around and then he settles,” Ward said. “With all that speed in there, I don’t think they’ll have to do that to get him back this time. Hopefully, he can tuck right in there behind them, but that’s not my job.”

The job of getting Asymmetric to settle will be that of Jamie Spencer, the European-based rider who is sticking in town Sunday after he rides Creative Flair in Saturday’s Grade 1 Diana for Godolphin. Ward said Spencer is friends with Rebecca Hillen, the owner of Asymmetric.

Ward said he is taking the blinkers off Asymmetric for the Quick Call.

“That should help the jock as well,” Ward said.

Asymmetric is drawn in post 7 of what is an eight-horse field on turf. However, One Timer, drawn in post 6, is expected to scratch to run in Sunday’s $100,000 My Frenchman Stakes at Monmouth Park, trainer Larry Rivelli said.

Big Invasion, the horse to beat in the Quick Call, is positioned right outside of Asymmetric. After finishing second in his debut in January at Gulfstream Park, Big Invasion has reeled off four consecutive wins, including the Texas Glitter at Gulfstream, the William Walker at Churchill Downs and the Paradise Creek at Belmont, where he came from further off the pace than he had in his previous races.

“He ran really well at seven furlongs,” trainer Christophe Clement said, referring to the Paradise Creek. “He surprised me because he settled, but he has a lot of natural speed. He’s a very fast horse.”

Joel Rosario has the mount.

Like Big Invasion, Nobals has won four straight races. Trained by Rivelli, the speedy son of Noble Mission had won three straight on synthetic before winning an allowance on turf at Churchill on June 5.

“I always thought he was better on Poly than turf, but the last race changed my mind a little bit,” Rivelli said. “Pretty nice horse, getting better and better.”

Nobals could be part of the pace along with Run Curtis Run and Surprise Boss.

Sky and Sand and Dance Code complete the field on turf. Senbei and Hagler are entered only for the main track.

The Quick Call goes as race 8 on a 10-race card that begins at 1:05 p.m. Following dark days Monday and Tuesday, racing returns Wednesday at Saratoga.