Trainer Mike Puhich believes that Call Me Fast is a gelding who possesses graded stakes talent. 

He put that belief to the test last month at Oaklawn Park when Call Me Fast made his stakes debut going 1 1/16 miles in the Essex (G3) on March 18. It did not go well. 

“He never had a chance. The race is a throw out,” Puhich said. “He had a rough trip and got checked, and (jockey) Francisco (Arrieta) thought he was going to go down three times.” 

Owned by Giddyup Stables and Tom Lambro, Call Me Fast will receive his second stakes try Saturday in the 92^ndrunning of the $300,000 Ben Ali (G3) going 1 3/16 miles on the main track. 

Call Me Fast notched his first victory here during the 2022 Fall Meet, winning by 8¾ lengths and followed that with a runner-up effort in allowance company on the undercard of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. 

“That was a factor in running (in the Ben Ali). He loves this track and worked well here too,” Puhich said. “There is more run to the first turn here, and that will help as he doesn’t get away from the gate too well.” 

Call Me Fast worked a bullet 5 furlongs in :58.60 on April 10 and came back with a half-mile work in :49 on April 16. Julien Leparoux will have the mount Saturday.