Call Me Jamal ready to step up to Derby qualifier
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Call Me Jamal looked like Jamal Adams at his best when he took down a rival on a clear lead to win a Saturday allowance at Oaklawn Park.
Now, the 3-year-old is set to test his division’s best.
Trainer Michael Puhich said Tuesday that Call Me Jamal will likely make his next start in either the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby on April 2 at Oaklawn or the Grade 1, $1 million Blue Grass on April 9 at Keeneland.
Call Me Jamal – named for Seattle Seahawks safety – defeated a quality field of 3-year-olds Saturday. He stalked the pace along the rail, was angled out into the stretch by jockey Geovanni Franco, and ran down the leaders while covering 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.45.
A few races later, the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel went in 1:45.69. Both races came back with a Beyer Speed Figure of 84.
Puhich trains Call Me Jamal for Mark DeDomenico.
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“It was what we were hoping to see,” Puhich said of the sharp allowance win from Call Me Jamal. “It kind of keeps alive that dream we all have this time of year.”
Call Me Jamal won his maiden Dec. 18 at Oaklawn, in a 1 1/16-mile race in which he defeated eventual Rebel runner-up Ethereal Road. Puhich is looking forward to additional distance for Call Me Jamal, a May foal by Malibu Moon.
“He’s really a smart horse and very athletic,” Puhich said.
“He’s just starting to come around. Everything is just starting to blossom now.”
Puhich is a Seahawks fan and said the inspiration for Call Me Jamal’s name came at a time when the team picked up Adams.
Puhich has a 12-horse division at Oaklawn, and the stable includes Background, winner of last year’s Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs. He recently made his first start since that August race in a comeback sprint allowance and was fifth to track-record holder Hollis.
Puhich said the horse will now stretch back out around two turns.
“We’ll look to the Essex Handicap or the Oaklawn Mile,” he said.
The Grade 3, $500,000 Essex is March 19 at Oaklawn, and the Grade 3, $400,000 Oaklawn Mile is set for April 2.
Background has registered three of his four wins at Oaklawn. He races for Giddyup Stables.