Called to Serve makes the grade in Discovery Handicap

Called to Serve, coming off of top-three efforts in three consecutive stakes races, finally broke through with a big victory when he exploded past odds-on favorite Willy Beamin in the homestretch to win the $150,000 Discovery Handicap (gr. III) by 4 3/4 lengths.

Ridden to victory by Joel Rosario, Called to Serve bumped with Our Entourage at the start and soon dropped back into fifth place as Willy Beamin led the way through fractions of :24.63 and :49.36. Adirondack King and Our Entourage were his closest pursuers, followed then by Guilt Trip, Called to Serve, and Stephanoatsee.

Following three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.29, Called to Serve was guided to the far outside by Rosario and asked to begin his run. The colt responded with a strong burst of speed that carried him into the lead at the top of the stretch, and from there, the race was over. He accelerated his final eighth of a mile in a quick :12.37 to hit the finish line in front by 4 3/4 lengths while stopping the timer in 1:49.77 seconds.

Willy Beamin held second in a three-horse photo finish over Stephanoatsee and Adirondack King, while Guilt Trip and Our Entourage completed the order of finish.

A three-year-old gelded son of Afleet Alex, Called to Serve is trained by Nick Canani and owned by Mark C. Ferrell.

-Keelerman

WILLY BEAMIN WINS THE KING'S BISHOP STAKES!

Willy Beamin, who won the Albany Stakes at Saratoga on Wednesday, returned on short rest to pull an 11-1 upset in the $500,000 King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) on Saturday afternoon at Saratoga, rallying past Fort Loudon to secure a half-length victory in the biggest race of his career.

Ridden to victory by Alan Garcia, Willy Beamin was content to settle off of the early pace set by Trinniberg and Doctor Chit, who rattled off moderate fractions :22.28 and :45.13 seconds with about a length separating them. Currency Swap, Gun Boat, and Unbridled's Note were also up close, with Fort Loudon, Willy Beamin, Laurie's Rocket, Ever So Lucky, and Spin Out comprising the group at the back of the track.

Trinniberg and Doctor Chit continued to lead the way around the turn, but Fort Loudon and Unbridled's Note were moving as a pair of the outside, and in the homestretch, those two took over the lead from the front-runners. Currency Swap had lodged a bid along the rail to reach contention, but was flattening out. So it appeared as though Fort Loudon and Unbridled's Note would duel to the wire. But then, on the far outside, Willy Beamin began his rally; a rally which carried him to a convincing half-length victory in the good time of 1:22.02 seconds.

Fort Loudon edged out Unbridled's Note for second, while Doctor Chit, Laurie's Rocket, Currency Swap, Ever So Lucky, Spin Out, Trinniberg, and Gun Boat completed the order of finish. The winner is trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr.

-Keelerman

King's Bishop Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $500,000 Foxwoods King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I), to be run on Saturday at Saratoga. The prestigious seven-furlong race has drawn an exceptional field of ten three-year-old sprinters, led by 2011 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) winner Currency Swap, Woody Stephens Stakes (gr. II) winner Trinniberg, and Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) victor Fort Loudon.

1 Willy Beamin
2 Gun Boat
3 Currency Swap
4 Fort Loudon
5 Laurie's Rocket
6 Spin Out
7 Ever So Lucky
8 Unbridled's Note
9 Trinniberg
10 Doctor Chit

-Keelerman

Travers Stakes Contender Profile: WILLY BEAMIN

Owner: James A. Riccio
Trainer: Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.
Breeder: Patricia Staskowski Purdy
Expected Travers Jockey: Unknown

RACE RECORD

Age 3

1st Mike Lee Stakes
1st Allowance Optional Claiming
1st Allowance
1st Claiming
9th Allowance

Age 2

5th Restrainor Stakes
1st Maiden Special Weight
4th Maiden Special Weight
7th Maiden Special Weight

PEDIGREE

		A.P. Indy
	Suave
		Urbane
Willy Beamin
		Gold Token
	Big Tease
		Another Rita