Learntodiscover goes last to first in G3 Quick Call pres. by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

The 23-1 longshot Learntodiscover unleashed an impressive turn-of-foot through the stretch to rally from last-of-12 under Tyler Gaffalione and land his first graded stakes victory in Sunday’s Grade 3, $225,000 Quick Call presented by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Brendan Walsh for owner Mark Dobbin, the Havana Grey gelding was Group 3-placed in Ireland last August and made his stateside and barn debut in March with a sixth in the Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park. He then landed fourth in both the King Corrie over Tapeta at Woodbine Racetrack and an allowance turf sprint at Belmont at the Big A last out on June 19. The Quick Call was Learntodiscover’s shortest race to date after making each of his seven previous starts at six to 7 1/2 furlongs.

"It looked today, it's a turf sprint, but there was tons of speed in there,” Walsh said. “So we said we'd try and sit right behind the speed. We were a little further back than that, but thankfully they flew up front. They came back to us. He's been improving every run over here. He was a nice horse in Ireland. 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 really well since his last race, so it's great to do it."

In the Quick Call, Intricate Spirit steadied at the start as Monster angled in from post 5, causing Throckmorton to bump with Learntodiscover. Johnny’s Red Storm emerged sharply from post 10 and was briefly in front, but Monster charged ahead to mark the opening quarter-mile in 21.18 seconds over the firm footing with Learntodiscover trailing at the rear of the field.

“The idea was to sit in the pocket, let him use some of that speed but just try to keep him contained, but there was a lot of commotion coming out of the gate, just a lot of maneuvering, a lot of horses, so we didn’t get the position we wanted, but he settled great and when we found room at the top of the lane he really exploded,” Gaffalione said.

Monster extended his lead exiting the turn and Gaffalione angled Learntodiscover out widest of all to hit the clear and commence his rally, gaining down the center of the course as the favored Johnny’s Red Storm spun his wheels in second position and Throckmorton advanced to his inside while in tight through the half-mile in 43.93.

Monster still had a clear lead in mid-stretch with Johnny’s Red Storm fading from contention, while Learntodiscover was rolling and Throckmorton inched closer with every stride. Monster was brave through the final sixteenth, but tired late as Learntodiscover swept past in the last strides to win by a neck in a final time of 1:02.69. Throckmorton got his head down over Monster for place honors with Stradale running on to complete the superfecta another 2 3/4 lengths back.

“I had to wait a little longer than I wanted to, but it all worked out,” Gaffalione said, “When I took him out, I hit him the first time, and he set down. He really exploded, showed me a great turn of foot. He gave me a ton of confidence getting to the wire.”

Intricate Spirit, El Magnate, Rockies Balboa, Unwritten Rule, Johnny’s Red Storm, Longshoreman, Ewing and Bobrovsky completed the order of finish. Cy Fair, who won yesterday’s Grade 3 Coronation Cup here, was scratched, along with main track-only entrant Oscar’s Hope.

A claim of foul lodged by Intricate Spirit’s rider Manny Franco against Monster for interference at the start resulted in no change to the order of finish.

Walsh said the Grade 3, $225,000 Mahony over this same course and distance on August 16 is a possible next spot for Learntodiscover.

"We'll see, we'll see,” Walsh said. “We'll probably look at that or Kentucky Downs as well."

Luis Saez, jockey of Throckmorton, said the Chad Summers trainee ran admirably in defeat.

"It was a pretty good trip except for when we came into the stretch,” Saez said. “The ten [Johnny's Red Storm] came down on me, it costed us a little bit. Our horse kind of slowed down a little bit. After that, he finished. He finished well."

Bred in Great Britain by Mr. G. Wilding, Learntodiscover sold for $188,256 at the 2024 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and is out of the Kyllachy mare Our Gal. He banked $123,750 in victory while returning $49.96 on a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga with a nine-race card featuring the $200,000 Suzie O’Cain in Race 7. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern. 

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