Call Sign Seven ($139) lights up the board with rail-skimming upset in Seabiscuit
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DEL MAR, Calif. – With a sixteenth of a mile remaining in Saturday’s Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar, five of the eight runners were in contention, separated by less than two lengths.
El Potente led narrowly over Almendares and Astronomer, with Old Pal in fourth on the outside and Call Sign Seven fifth on the inside. Plenty had hopes.
Just as El Potente appeared to have the race won in his first start since February, Call Sign Seven, another horse returning from an extended layoff, produced a shocking result.
With a rally on the inside, Call Sign Seven won by a half-length as the longest shot in the field. Call Sign Seven ($139) ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:41.71 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94.
Call Sign Seven’s chances looked grim in early stretch when the colt seemed stuck behind the leaders. Jockey Ricky Gonzalez moved Call Sign Seven behind Astronomer, who was ridden by Antonio Fresu, with the hope of gaining racing room.
When space developed between the rail and Astronomer, Gonzalez was quick to urge Call Sign Seven.
“I was following Antonio Fresu and when I saw he opened up a little bit, I shot right through it,” Gonzalez said.
Call Sign Seven beat 10-1 Astronomer, who finished well despite racing in traffic in the stretch.
“He didn’t have running room when he needed it,” trainer Simon Callaghan said of Astronomer. “It’s nice to see him run well.”
El Potente, who won the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes in February before being given a rest, held third, a head behind Astronomer.
El Potente, trained by Dan Blacker, was always near the front through early fractions of 23.27 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.11 for a half-mile. El Potente, the 9-5 favorite, led by a length with a furlong remaining.
“He ran great,” Blacker said. “If it would have been a mile, it would have been a different story.”
Old Pal finished fourth, beaten three-quarters of a length, and was followed by Almendares, Stay Hot, Sumter, and Cabo Spirit.
Under the handicap conditions of the $201,500 Seabiscuit, Call Sign Seven carried low weight of 116, while Almendares, Cabo Spirit, and Stay Hot shared topweight of 123.
Call Sign Seven is trained by Michael McCarthy, who credited Gonzalez for a crafty ride.
“In the middle of the turn, it looked like he was getting a little bit shuffled back,” McCarthy said. “He was able to find some room. I’m certainly glad he did.”
The Seabiscuit Handicap was Call Sign Seven’s first start since a seventh-place finish in an allowance race at Santa Anita in March. McCarthy said that Call Sign Seven “needed a freshening,” resulting in the layoff.
Call Sign Seven, a 4-year-old colt by Speightstown, races for Savio-Cannon Thoroughbreds. Call Sign Seven has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $190,500.
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