LAUREL, MD. 12-08-11---Call Of A Lion won for the seventh time in as many starts this year with a driving score in Thursday’s 7^th race, a $17,000 starter allowance for fillies and mares. Three starts ago she was victorious in the Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap at Laurel Park.

The daughter of Lion Hearted was winning for the sixth time since re-entering the barn of Charles “Snake” Frock, who had claimed the 5-year-old mare for $5,000 on January 17. After raising Call of a Lion, Frock had lost her via the claim for $32,000 to owner Robert Cole and trainer Scott Lake in August 2010 at Monmouth Park.

Call of a Lion and jockey J.D. Acosta broke alertly, but Fix You was quickest from the gate and opened a two length lead. Fix You continued at a strong pace but could not hold off the late surge of the winner, who completed the seven furlongs in 1:23.99 and won by a length. Call of a Lion paid $5.40.

“This was a tough race,” said Frock, who co-owns Call of a Lion with his wife, Barbara. “Fix It had not been off the board all year but it helped that she had not run since July. She ran her heart out but we beat her.”

Frock indicated Call of a Lion would stay in starter allowance company. That same tactic has been used by Cole with Rapid Redux, who set a North American record by winning 20 consecutive races, the majority in starter allowance tests. Rapid Redux will attempt to win his 21^st straight race Tuesday, December 13 at Laurel.

“We have a year and a half with the condition (from October 28, her first starter allowance race),” added Frock. “With the Laurel meet ending next week, we will give her a breather and wait until the beginning of the new year. She likes to run about every three weeks.”

Call of a Lion, who has won nine of her last 10, improves her record to 15 victories in 34 career starts with earnings of $257,165.

DELGADO CAPS 3-FOR-3 DAY WITH 69-1 WINNER

Alberto Delgado capped a three-for-three afternoon with a score aboard 69-1 shot Changing Funds in Thursday’s 5^th race, a $12,000 claimer. Earlier on the card, the 47-year-old won aboard Walkin’ Boss ($5.40-first) and One to a Royal ($3.40-fourth).

Delgado moved into a tie with Xavier Perez for fifth place in the fall rider standings. Twenty-two of his 28 first place finishes have been for trainer Dane Kobiskie.

For the year, the 1982 Eclipse Award winning apprentice has 79 victories, the most since he won 122 races in 1999.