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Cathkin Peak dominates $135K John’s Call

by Christian Abdo

Flying P Stable’s Grade 1-placed Cathkin Peak showed his class when dominating Wednesday’s Listed $135,000 John’s Call, a 1 5/8-mile Mellon turf test for 4-year-olds and up who had not won a Grade 1 or 2 sweepstake on grass in 2024, at Saratoga Race Course.

The 6-year-old Alhebayeb gelding was making his first start for trainer Mike Maker after being claimed for $80,000 out of a seventh-place effort going 1 1/16 miles in June at Churchill Downs. It was another example of success at the Spa for Maker and Flying P Stable, who also captured the next race on the card with Accidental Hero taking a nine-furlong claimer in Race 4.

Currently, Maker is second in the trainer standings with 20 wins, four back of perennial powerhouse Chad Brown [24], and Flying P Stable is ranked first among owners with 12 victories.

Jay Provenzano, of Flying P Stable, said he was grateful for this summer’s success.

“The meet is very special. I had a very dismal meet last year, but this meet you couldn't script it any better and now to throw the stake on top of it, it's like the icing,” said Provenzano. “We still have more to go. It's not over by far.”

Piloted by Jose Ortiz, Cathkin Peak broke alertly from the outermost post 5 as the Irad Ortiz, Jr.-piloted Six Minus went to the front from the inside draw. After a few strides in second position, Cathkin Peak went on with it and took command to set an opening-quarter mile in 26.47 seconds on the good turf.

“I let him run to the first turn, he got an easy lead, and he kept going,” said Ortiz.

Six Minus and the other three competitors watched Cathkin Peak extend his lead through the first turn. Crossing the wire for the first time, that margin only grew despite a tight hold from Ortiz as the bay traveled a bit off the hedge through the half-mile in 52.96.

In the second turn, Cathkin Peak kept on, reeling off three-quarters in 1:18.48. Approaching one-mile in 1:44.70, Six Minus and Curbstone made up mild ground but the early pacesetter was showing no signs that he’d come back to the field.

“I wasn't expecting to be loose on the lead. I wish he would have relaxed a little bit more and I could have slowed it down a little bit more. I had five lengths in front – I could have slowed it down,” Ortiz explained of the large cushion. “But my horse was very happy doing it by himself.”

In the final turn, Ortiz, Jr. urged Six Minus while Andthewinneris was under a ride from third, but Ortiz in his bright pink Flying P silks still resembled a statue on the front end.

After 10-furlongs in 2:09.94, Cathkin Peak remained all alone and there was never any doubt, winning by five lengths in a final time of 2:48.30.

Six Minus held second by 6 1/4-lengths over Andthewinneris. Curbstone and Winning Spirit completed the order of finish. Foreign Relations was scratched along with main track-only entrants Kuchar, Costa Terra and Dai Vernon.

“When I asked him to go, he was there for me. Great job by Mike. He always finds these claims and he always does well with them,” said Ortiz. “I want to say congratulations to Jay and Mike, thankful for the opportunity.”

Provenzano said the 2021 nine-furlong Grade 1 Hollywood Derby third-place finisher Cathkin Peak was a good candidate for turf marathons.

“When we spotted the horse, we thought that this horse would stretch. He had some back class and that was the plan to get him in the John's Call,” said Provenzano. “He hadn't won a sweepstakes, so he fell right into the category. We trained him for this, and he ran the way he trained.”

Maker, who won an off-the-turf running of this event in 2022 with Girl Dad, said today was an impressive effort after Cathkin Peak’s hard work of setting the pace.

"I expected a big effort from him, but you're always surprised when it's that big of an effort. Usually, I don't like to see them open up that much on the turf, but I thought the fractions were realistic,” said Maker. “I thought he was well within himself, and it turned out that way."

Maker added that a potential next start for Cathkin Peak is in the Grade 2, $2 million Kentucky Turf Cup on September 7 at Kentucky Downs.

Ortiz, Jr. said the Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher-trained Six Minus ran hard against a formidable foe.

“It was a little soft ground, but no excuse to be honest. He kind of waited a little bit for the other horses, but he couldn’t catch up,” said Ortiz, Jr.

Bred in Ireland by G. Kinch, Cathkin Peak, out of the Footstepsinthesand mare Drumcliffe Dancer, is a half-brother to Group 1-placed El Astronaute. He banked $74,250 in victory while improving his record to 20-5-4-3 and returning $9.90 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Thursday with a 10-race card that features the Grade 2, $300,000 Ballston Spa, in Race 2. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.