West Point Thoroughbreds will have two chances at graded stakes success Sunday at Saratoga as Intricate Spirit and Ewing square off in the $225,000 Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds.
The pair arrive from very different paths.
Miguel Clement-trained Intricate Spirit brings in an accomplished turf résumé. The son of Complexity broke his maiden on the grass at Saratoga and captured last fall’s Grade 3 Futurity at Aqueduct, before returning there for a front-running score in the Paradise Creek Stakes on May 23. Manny Franco, currently third in the Saratoga jockey standings, retains the mount from post 4.
“He just dominated that field, broke on top and never looked back, just a powerful win,” West Point Executive Vice President Jason Blewitt said of the Paradise Creek.
While Intricate Spirit is the proven turf performer, Ewing enters with an intriguing question to answer.
The Mark Casse trainee won his first two starts impressively last summer on the main track at Saratoga, including the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, but a winter setback interrupted his sophomore campaign. Sunday’s Quick Call will be his first start on turf, although his pedigree and recent training suggest the experiment is well worth trying. He has turned in a pair of sharp local works, including a half-mile over the Saratoga turf training course, and reunites with Jose Ortiz, who enters the weekend leading the Saratoga jockey standings.
“We’re excited to see what he can do on the grass,” Casse said. “He’s trained well over it, and this looks like the right opportunity.”
The race will air nationally on Fox Sports 2.
