Call Paul dominates New Castle Stakes

Call Paul was the biggest name on Saturday's card at Delaware Park for statebred or state-certified runners, and did not disappoint, rolling to a three-length victory as the heavy favorite in the $100,000 New Castle, one of six stakes on the card.

Call Paul ($2.20), a Pennsylvania-bred by leading Maryland sire Friesan Fire, was eligible for Saturday's card as a Delaware-certified runner. To be certified, horses must be boarded at a Delaware farm or training center for at least 90 days prior to March 31 of their 2-year-old year, and must subsequently race at Delaware Park. Call Paul won his debut at Delaware in summer 2018 before taking the Grade 2 Saratoga Special for trainer Jason Servis. After finishing third in both the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes and Grade 3 Nashua Stakes, he wrapped up the season by winning the Pennsylvania Nursery.

Call Paul had a productive first half of this season, winning the Grade 3 Swale Stakes in Florida, finishing third in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes and second in the Gold Fever Stakes in New York, and winning the Danzig Stakes against his fellow Pennsylvania-breds. However, he came to Delaware looking to rebound off two unplaced efforts at Saratoga, finishing seventh in the Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes on the turf, and then sixth in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens.

There was no doubt in Saturday's outing, as Call Paul, breaking from the rail in a short field of four under Angel Suarez, established a half-length lead through a sharp opening quarter in 22.54 seconds, and continued to edge away through the half in 45.28. He shook clear of the field when roused in upper stretch and was never seriously threatened to the wire, finishing the six furlongs in 1:09.38.

Threes Over Deuces was a clear second by 11 1/4 lengths over Winplaceorshowono. Bronx Sandman trailed throughout.

Shimmering Aspen scored a repeat victory in the female counterpart to the New Castle, the $100,000 Tax Free Shopping Distaff for Delaware-bred or -certified fillies and mares. It was the fifth career stakes victory for Shimmering Aspen ($2.60), who had Victor Carrasco aboard for trainer Rodney Jenkins.

In other stakes on the card:

• Pink Caddy ($2.60) dominated the $100,000 Small Wonder Stakes for Delaware-bred or -certified 2-year-old fillies, cruising by 6 3/4 lengths with Mychel Sanchez in the irons for Randy Allen.
• Golden Candy ($3.80) defeated four other Delaware-bred or -certified juvenile males by four lengths in the $100,000 First State Dash. Carol Cedeno was aboard the Anthony Pecoraro trainee.
• Jenkins and Carrasco also teamed with Cordmaker ($3.20) to win the $75,000 DTHA Governors Day Handicap. The race was one of two $75,000 stakes on the card restricted to horses who have started at Delaware this year, excluding stakes races. Multiple stakes winner Cordmaker was third by a half-length in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special in May.
• On a stakes slate otherwise dominated by favorites, Tightly Twisted ($45) forged her way to a three-quarter-length score in the $75,000 George Rosenberger Memorial Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf. Jhonatan Mendoza was aboard the filly for trainer Juanita Bennett.