There were plenty of quick 3-year-olds signed on to compete in the aptly named Quick Call Stakes (G3T) July 19 at Saratoga Race Course, and the $225,000 prize was won by the horse moving quickest at the end.
That was Learntodiscover, who looked as though he was shot out of a cannon at the top of the stretch as he thundered from last of 12 to run down Throckmorton and Monster by a neck while pulling off a 23-1 upset that paid $49.96.
Being last early wasn't exactly what trainer Brendan Walsh or Tyler Gaffalione planned for Mark Dobbin's Havana Grey gelding, but it ended up being the perfect spot for him to be as Monster set fractions of :21.18 and :43.93. The plan was to sit right in behind the speed, but Gaffalione found himself shuffled back early.
"There was a lot of commotion coming out of the gates, just a lot of maneuvering and a lot of horses," Gaffalione said. "I didn't get the position we wanted, but he settled great."
Monster, himself a 24-1 longshot, shook loose at the top of the stretch and appeared he might be home free. However, as they approached the 16th pole, Throckmorton gradually started to reel him in. It set up for a dramatic final yards for the two until suddenly Learntodiscover swooped past them both to steal the victory.
"I had to wait a little bit longer than I would have liked to, but it worked out," Gaffalione said. "When I took him out, I hit him the first time and he set down and really exploded."
Bred in Great Britain by Mr. G. Wilding, Learntodiscover made his first four starts in Ireland for Dobbin. He concluded that portion of his career with a third-place finish in the Round Tower Stakes (G3) at the Curragh in August before Dobbin, a New York resident, opted to move him closer to home. He was off-the-board in all three American starts prior to Sunday with a variety of trips, including a pace-setting attempt going 6 furlongs against allowance foes at Aqueduct Racetrack June 19, eventually finishing fourth.
"The last day he was probably a little too prominent," Walsh said. "He broke well and kind of got on the lead and was going a tick too fast. Today there was tons of speed in there. We said to try and sit right behind the speed, but were a little further back than that. Thankfully they flew up front and they came back to us."
Walsh said he has seen the gelding make steady progress as he's adjusted to a new racing style in the United States, and he's hopeful that trend will continue.
"He's been improving every run over here," Walsh said. "I think sometimes when they come here, they need a couple of races to adjust to the style. I could see him gradually doing it, and he's been doing very well since his last race."
Learntodiscover completed his 5 1/2-furlong quest Sunday in 1:02.69, and Walsh said this is probably as low a distance as he wants to go.
"At home he's probably a 6-furlong, maybe 6 1/2-furlong, type horse," Walsh said. "Sometimes they're a difficult horse to race here because they're kind of inbetweeners. Thankfully he found his niche, and I think he will improve."
