Call Paul euthanized after leg injury

Call Paul, a multiple graded stakes-winning colt formerly trained by Jason Servis, suffered a fatal injury to his left hind leg during a workout over the Belmont Park training track Wednesday morning.

Call Paul, who hadn’t run since finishing fifth as the 4-5 favorite in the Steel Valley Sprint Championship last Nov. 25 at Mahoning Valley, was working for the fourth time since he was transferred to Rob Atras.

Call Paul was one of 39 horses based at Belmont Park previously trained by Servis who had to be dispersed to other trainers after Servis was indicted in March for allegedly administering illegal medications to racehorses and had his license suspended by the New York Gaming Commision. Call Paul was owned by Michael Dubb, David Simon, and Bethlehem Stables.

A 4-year-old Pennsylvania-bred son of Friesan Fire, Call Paul began his career as a 2-year-old at Delaware Park, defeating Mind Control – a subsequent multiple Grade 1 winner – in a maiden race. He then shipped to Saratoga to win the Grade 2 Saratoga Special. Call Paul finished third in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park and the Grade 3 Nashua at Aqueduct before ending his juvenile campaign with a victory in the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes at Parx.

Call Paul kicked off his 3-year-old season with a victory in the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream and would later win Pennsylvania-bred stakes at Penn National and Parx.

Call Paul finished his career with a record of 6-2-3 from 14 starts with earnings of $573,720

Atras, reached Thursday morning by phone, declined comment.

Call Paul is the fifth training-related fatality at Belmont Park in 2020.