OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso’s Pete’s Play Call returned to the work tab for the first time since May for trainer Rudy Rodriguez on Monday at Belmont Park.
A 9-year-old son of Munnings, Pete’s Play Call was last seen finishing a distant 10th in an open-company optional claimer at Belmont on May 1. The race closed out an 8-year-old campaign that saw the gelding win the Gravesend and finish a close second in the Grade 3 Toboggan, both at the Big A.
The chestnut boasts a record of 50-14-11-6 with earnings of $706,985 and includes a victory in the 2019 Bonapaw at Fair Grounds and a runner-up effort in the Caixa Eletronica starter stakes at Aqueduct last year.
Pete’s Play Call breezed three-eighths in 39.11 seconds over Belmont’s dirt training track on Monday.
“The owners brought him back and he worked good,” Rodriguez said. “Right now, it’s so far so good. I don’t have any idea what is next for him, but he’ll tell us what to do.”
Wudda U Think Now, winner of the six-furlong Hollie Hughes in his last start on February 16, was nominated to the one-mile Haynesfield on Sunday at the Big A but bypassed in favor of another sprint start.
“I’m just trying to be patient with him,” said Rodriguez. “I want to try to keep him a sprinter for now and if the owner lets me, I’ll try the mile.”
Owned by Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group, the son of Fast Anna notched his first stakes victory with his front-running Hollie Hughes effort, defeating multiple stakes winner My Boy Tate by 4 1/4 lengths.
Rodriguez also reported the return of Grade 1 Test victress Bella Sofia to his barn at the beginning of the month. The daughter of Awesome Patriot has enjoyed some downtime since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar.
Rodriguez said the filly arrived back at his barn in good order.
“She’s here at Belmont and if everything goes well, maybe we’ll breeze her three-eighths on Sunday,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez’s recent allowance optional claiming winner Big Engine will make the step back up to stakes company when he contests the $75,000 Not For Love at Laurel Park on Sunday.
A 7-year-old son of the race’s namesake, Big Engine was a come-from-behind winner in his last start at the Big A on February 19 when he sprinted six furlongs to earn a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
NYRA Press Office
Photo: Pete’s Play Call (#1 inside) just missed the wire by 1/2 a length against America Power (#5) in the Tobaggon at Aqueduct Jan. 30, 2021. (Susie Raisher)
