Call Me Wally more than adequate backup for Buttigieg in New Providence
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Paul Buttigieg’s venerable stable star, 2013 Canadian champion sprinter Phil’s Dream, isn’t quite ready for Saturday’s $125,000 New Providence Stakes at Woodbine. Buttigieg has gone to his bench and will run the fast-working 4-year-old Call Me Wally in the six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired stock.
Call Me Wally began his career last summer by winning an Ontario-sired maiden special weight race on Polytrack and an allowance on grass. He narrowly lost a pair of non-winners-of-three allowances in the fall before clearing that Ontario-sired condition with a 93 Beyer Speed Figure in his last start Nov. 20.
Call Me Wally worked five-eighths in a sizzling 58.20 seconds over a lightning-fast Tapeta surface on April 10. Buttigieg slowed him down last Saturday, when he breezed a half-mile in 50.60.
“He’s maturing more and more every day,” said Buttigieg. “He’s just getting right. I think he’ll run good. He’s going to be a better horse a little later on in the year, I think.”
The New Providence lured six others, including the supplemented Sparrowhawk.
New Providence, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Call Me Wally, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 93-77-93
◗ His only poor performance was in the one-mile Vice Regent Stakes on grass, in which he had a troubled trip while going a distance that was too far for him.
◗ Buttigieg has won the New Providence twice, including with Phil’s Dream in 2014.
Goodoldhockeygame, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-89
◗ After placing in several restricted stakes for 3-year-olds last year, he defeated older opposition in the Overskate Stakes. He really blossomed late in the fall, when he took the allowance prep for the Kennedy Road Stakes before closing for third after getting slammed at the break in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road.
◗ Trainer Bob Tiller has won this event a record three times, most recently with Dave the Knave in 2007.
Born in a Breeze, by Leonnatus AnteasLast 3 Beyers: 87-86-88
◗ He evolved into an excellent turf miler last year and notched his stakes debut in the restricted Vice Regent in August. He wintered at Palm Meadows after ending up second Nov. 25 in the Sir Barton Stakes.
Sorry About That, by Mobil
Last 3 Beyers: 90-74-90
◗ He rallied for second in this fixture on two occasions and finished sixth in last year’s edition. The 7-year-old ran third against open stakes company two weeks ago in his season opener in the Jacques Cartier.
Seffeara, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 73-93-75
◗ He hasn’t started since July 22 but was victorious the first time out in each of the past two years.