SARATOGA SPRINGS – Last in the early going, Hall-of-Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard’s 6-year-old gelding Spanish Spur weaved his way through the field under a heady ride by Cornelio Velasquez to win yesterday’s $65,000 John’s Call Stakes by three lengths.

“When we got around the quarter-pole, there were a lot of horses,” Velasquez said. “Once I got in between them, he went easy.”

The race was named in honor of trainer Tommy Voss’ gelding, who won the Sword Dancer at Saratoga and the Turf Classic at Belmont Park in 2000. John’s Call, now a 13-year-old stable pony, led the post parade.

Spanish Spur ran the mile and five-eighths over yielding turf in 2:46.1 to pay $18.80 keying a $418 exacta with Cottage second. Host was third.