News & Barn notes
Late Call’s Strong Late Rally Earns 3 1/4-Length Victory In Sunday’s Featured $50,000 Starter Handicap
August 04, 2024
![](https://www.monmouthpark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08-04-24-05-Late-Call-FIN_02.jpg)
Late Call made a bold three-wide entering the final turn, rallying from fifth at the time, and swept by the front-running Fightertown early in the stretch on the way to 3¼-length victory in Sunday’s featured $50,000 starter handicap at Monmouth Park.
Ridden by Jomar Torres and trained by Derek Ryan, Late Call covered the mile and an eighth over a turf course listed as good in 1:50.09.
The race was third in the four-part Malouf Auto Group Starter Series.
Sent off at 4-1 in the field of seven, Late Call was near the back of the back through the opening six furlongs set by Fightertown, with those fractions going in :23.98, :48.28 and 1:12.16.
Torres opted to move wide entering the final turn and Late Call, a 5-year-old gelded son of Dialed In, easily swept by the field. Fightertown held for second, a half-length ahead of Gilded Age.
“This is what I expected, he came late going the mile and one eighth and had plenty left,” said Torres. “He broke really well. It was a perfect trip. When I asked him he was there and ready.
“As soon as I asked him to go I knew the race was over. We just took off.”
The Kentucky-bred Late Call was claimed for $7,500 on May 26 by My Way Stable.
The victory was his fourth from 14 career starts. He has a 2-0-2 line from five career grass starts.
Late Call has two wins and two thirds in the four starts since Ryan took over his training,
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