Call Me Midnight moves to turf sprint in Dade Park Dash
Not many horseplayers could’ve had “turf sprinter at Ellis Park” on their bingo card for Call Me Midnight after the colt outran the mighty Epicenter in a 28-1 upset of the Lecomte at Fair Grounds nearly six months ago.
Nonetheless, here’s Call Me Midnight being given a brand new directive Sunday as one of the favorites for the $60,000 Dade Park Dash at Ellis. The son of Midnight Lute is among a field of six 3-year-olds in the 5 1/2-furlong turf race, a stark contrast to the longer dirt races in which he had been competing when trying to make further impact atop the division.
Three unsatisfactory efforts subsequent to his breakthrough score in the Jan. 22 Lecomte in New Orleans have led trainer Keith Desormeaux to try something altogether different with Call Me Midnight. Although his 10 prior starts all have been on dirt, the race shape of the Dade Dash would seem to favor the late-closing running style of Call Me Midnight, assuming all six entries run as scheduled. His lack of turf experience might well be partly offset if that full pace dynamic stays intact.
The outside horses Emperorofthedark and Sheltowee’s Bali both might be considered “cheap speed,” both of them exiting lower-quality races at Mountaineer Park. In fact, Sheltowee’s Bali would be back on just three days’ rest after running fourth Wednesday night in an allowance at the West Virginia track.
In any case, Circle Back Jack could be the first to make the front after the Mountaineer shippers get leg-weary, with B D Valeski and All in Sync filing right in behind. Then they might all be asked to deal with the late punch of Call Me Midnight, whose last three losses came in high-end races won by Epicenter, Tawny Port, and Conagher. His peak Beyer Speed Figures of 90 and 88 rank best in this field.
Circle Back Jack is trained by Sarah Hamilton, whose first career win came at Ellis last August with Call Me Gusto.
The Dade Dash is a tribute to what this western Kentucky track was known as – Dade Park – prior to being renamed Ellis Park in 1954. It’s the fifth of eight races on a card that starts at the usual 12:50 p.m. Central. Two allowances (races 4 and 7) and three maiden-specials (races 1, 3, 6) will help make for a fine program.
The Dade purse includes $25,000 in bonuses from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, for which all six starters are eligible.
Sunshine and a high of 87 are forecast for Sunday. Another three-day race week at Ellis resumes Friday following four dark days.