Call Me Larry wins sixth race at Aqueduct by a length. Owner Suzie O'Cain of Highcliff Farm donates portion of winnings to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
New York has a new hero. His name is Larry, or rather Call Me Larry, and he runs for a specific purpose. This past Saturday, the four year old gelding won the sixth race at Aqueduct, a Maiden Special Weight, for 4-year olds and up who were foaled in New York State. The purse was $41,000, of which $24,600 went to the winner.
The colt had health problems as a 3-year old, thus he had raced only once before, on February 10, and surprisingly finished a hard driving second place in a field of eleven. Now, seven horses entered Saturday's six furlong contest, and at post time, Call Me Larry was the second favorite. When the race began, he cruised at a reasonable pace, spending most of his time in sixth place. As the field rounded the turn he moved up to third, and as they came down the stretch he shifted gears, and this time would not be denied. Ten percent of his winnings are to be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
The real hero, however, is Suzie O'Cain of Highcliff Farm, and owner of Call Me Larry. Her involvement with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation began when she met Evelyn Lauder, of Estée Lauder fame, while doing a television show called "Women in Racing" for the local Saratoga OTB channel. Lauder, an noted philanthropist, founded the Foundation. The two women became friends, and O'Cain quickly became a big supporter of the cause. Through Lauder, O'Cain featured Dr. Larry Norton, a research Physician at the Evelyn Lauder Breast Center and the Iris Cantor Diagnostic Center, on her television show . Dr. Norton repeatedly asked O'Cain to "Call me Larry".
The show went well and O'Cain was inspired. To her tremendous credit, she started Find A Cure Stable with the sole purpose of donating money for breast cancer research. Appropriately, she named the Stable's first horse first horse Call Me Larry. Trained by Leah Gyarmati and currently ridden by Eibar Coa, he is a big horse, almost seventeen hands. If he remains healthy, his future appears to be bright.
This is not the first time that a horse has raced for charity. Only two years ago Cash is King Stable, owner of Afleet Alex, donated ten percent of their earnings to Alex's Lemonade Stand. With the help of the NTRA, Alex's Leomenade Stands sprouted at racetracks throughout the country, raising money to help research and cure childhood cancer. Afleet Alex finished third in the Kentucky Derby, scored a dramatic Preakness win and romped to victory in the Belmont Stakes, bringing much-needed publicity to the charity and capturing the nation's heart.
Suzie O'Cain has taken this concept to a different level. Find A Cure Stable was created specifically to represent many horses, all running with the hope of generating donations for the Foundation. The Stable's jockey silks reflect this intention, for the shirt is white with pink sleeves, and emblazened with the iconic Breast Cancer ribbon. Sporting a pink hat, Call Me Larry clearly represents the charity, and the fans have accepted him as their own.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has a formidable ally in O'Cain. Do not be surprised if Call Me Larry is the favorite for his next race, for everyone will be rooting for him and his cause.
