Caller One Sprints to Los Angeles Handicap Victory

Carolyn Chapman and Theresa McArthur's Caller One pressed a fast early pace and drew away in the stretch under a hand ride to win Sunday's $107,300 Los Angeles Handicap (gr. III) at Hollywood Park. Under jockey Corey Nakatani, 4-year-old Caller One completed the six furlongs in 1:08.35 on a fast track.

Freespool raced to a one-length lead over Caller One after a quarter-mile run in :21.52. Caller One moved up along the inside during the next quarter and led by a length after a half-mile in :43.79, with a gap of three lengths from Freespool to third-place Mateka. From there it was all Caller One, who built a four-length lead before cruising home to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

"The good ones make it easy," Nakatani said. "He broke on the lead. I know how quick he is, how fast he is, and my key to riding this horse is just to get him to relax wherever he is comfortable. I just sat on him after he broke so good and let that other horse (Freespool) go on and think he had the race. I let my horse eyeball the other one at about the four-and-a-half. After that he made it easy and a lot of fun for me. He's just getting better all the time."

Rapidough came home third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Stormy Jack. Gibson County, Freespool, and Mateka completed the order of finish.

James Chapman-trained Caller One returned $3.20, $2.20, and $2.10 as the 3-5 favorite. Stormy Jack paid $2.60 and $2.10. Rapidough was worth $2.10 to show. The $1 exacta paid $4.30.

Caller One last raced in March, winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-III) by 4 1/2 lengths over Men's Exclusive. As a 3-year-old, the Phone Trick gelding won the Kentucky Cup Sprint Stakes (gr. II) and the Lafayette Stakes (gr. III) and finished second in the Malibu Stakes (gr. I). He earned $64,380 for the win, his ninth in 14 starts. He was bred in Kentucky by Orpendale and R. Gaines Thoroughbreds.

Chapman said Caller One will likely race twice more before the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), in which he finished fourth last year, coming home three lengths behind Kona Gold after a somewhat troubled start. "You can't take anything away from Kona Gold, he's a great horse," Chapman said. "He will have to deal with a different horse this year in the Breeders' Cup, though." (Chart, Equibase)