Call Sign Seven stood quietly in the winner’s enclosure, steam rolling from his shoulders as Ricardo Gonzalez leaned down and planted a grateful hand upon the colt’s neck. The moment felt heavy with relief and pride — a long layoff, a patient return, and now, a breakthrough in the Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar that few could have predicted.
Breaking from the gate without urgency, Call Sign Seven was settled second-last against the rail, content to watch others dictate the tempo over 1 1/16 miles of firm grass. Gonzalez never rushed him, only waiting for a small window, a half-chance that arrived as the field swung for home. When the gap appeared, the four-year-old colt surged like a coiled spring let loose, slicing between rivals and finishing strongest of all to score by half a length.
Up ahead for much of the journey, El Potente and Hector Berrios controlled the rhythm into the far turn, with Astronomer poised just behind under Antonio Fresu. Cabo Spirit stayed close as they travelled down the backstretch, but once they straightened, it was Astronomer who loomed with intent — chasing the leader, then fighting on bravely when the late attack arrived. He held second narrowly over El Potente, both beaten by a horse who simply wanted it more when it mattered.
Gonzalez, pleased but measured, spoke like a rider who trusted what was under him. “I was running with a lot of horses and just waited,” he said. “When it opened, I went. He’s getting better, and longer distances will suit him even more.” His words echoed the calm confidence that defined the ride.
A Seabiscuit Handicap victory marked a milestone for trainer Michael McCarthy, who returned the colt to competition following seven months away. His patience was rewarded. “It always looked like he was travelling comfortably,” McCarthy reflected. “He was shuffled back at one stage, but once he found space, he did the rest. Full credit to horse and rider.”
Call Sign Seven, owned by Savio-Cannon Thoroughbreds LLC, became a stakes winner for the first time and now boasts a record of 6-3-0-0 with earnings nearing two hundred thousand. The fractions were steady — 23.27, 47.11, 1:11.15, 1:35.56 — with a final time of 1:41.71, numbers that underline how decisive that late kick truly was.
For now, the stable walks away with a horse reborn, a rider vindicated, and the roar of an unexpected outcome still hanging in the afternoon air.
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