Called to Serve downs Willy Beamin to land the Discovery Handicap
Peter Eurton trained 3-year-old colt, Called to Serve, posted an emphatic upset over the 7 to 10 favourite, Willy Beamin, to take the Grade 3, $150,000 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack on 17 November, 2012.
The Kentucky bred son of Afleet Alex, under jockey Joel Rosario, was pegged back to come off the pace, and was settled in fifth in the early stages of the race. Willy Beamin on the other hand, spurted to the lead right from the outset, and carved easy fractions.
In the nine furlong race, James A. Riccio’s Willy Beamin downed the opening quarter mile in 24.63 seconds, half mile in 49.36 seconds, and six furlongs in 1 minute and 13.29 seconds over the fast dirt track.
Mr. and Mrs. Marc C. Ferrell’s Called to Serve, who was carrying 117 pounds, four less than the favourtie, Willy Beamin, made a strong wide move as the field turned for home, and the eighth pole he collared, Willy Beamin, and with the help of a 12.27 seconds
final eighth, Called to Serve was on his way to his second career victory.
Out of Kris S mare Andover Lady, Called to Serve was coming off a layoff in the Discovery Handicap, and was exiting a second place finish to, Our Entourage, in the $83,000 Temeprence Hill Stakes at Belmont Park.
Prior to that, he finished third behind Willy Beamin and Politicallycorrect in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby and third again in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby on 4 August, behind Bourbon Courage and Macho Macho.
“He came to New York and ran in the Temperence Hill as a prep for this,” Canani said. “Marc Ferrell gave me a great opportunity to move the horse (from California) and give him to me. I don’t think we could be happier right now. I was a bit concerned when
I saw the slow fractions, but I can only control my own horse. The last three weeks he’s made great strides, put on weight, filled out, and he was doing super.
Bred in Kentucky by Tracy Farmer, Called to Serve was a $290,000 buy in the 2010 Kentucky September yearling sale from the Three Chimneys Sales consignment.
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