BALTIMORE - After Late Nite Call wired five others in a maiden special weight at Laurel Park, trainer Niall Saville remarked “there was no off switch.”

On Friday at Pimlico, Late Nite Call turned it on once again, gamely re-rallying along the rail to beat favored Mischief in Motion by a half-length in the featured eighth race, a $49,000 first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

Late Nite Call didn’t break the best, but jockey Tyler Conner aggressively sent the filly to the lead heading into the first turn. They set an opening quarter fraction of 24.22 seconds while outside of Chickin Lickin before clearing to an uncontested lead after a half-mile clocking of 48.31.

“We broke a step slow here,” Saville said. “I actually worked her out of the gate last Saturday just to remind her of her job.”

Mischief In Motion and jockey Mychel Sanchez loomed outside Late Nite Call after six furlongs in 1:13.03, and poked a head in front at the three-sixteenths marker.

Late Nite Call looked in hot water, but she was resolute on the inside and battled back to prevail in 1:46.91 over the good main track.

“The way [Mischief in Motion] came and headed her and [she still] came back, that’s really nice to see with any horse,” mentioned Saville.

Rosieontheriver rallied to finish third, a length behind Mischief in Motion. Then came Chickin Lickin and Ade. Tres Aries scratched.

Late Nite Call returned $6.20 as the second choice in the betting.

“There was plenty of horse,” Conner told the trainer in the winner’s circle. “She just waited a bit. She actually got back in front of [Mischief in Motion] and waited again a little bit, and wanted to switch leads late. Maybe if she sees a little bit more, then she might be even better.”

Late Nite Call debuted in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Laurel on November 15 and finished a late-running sixth with a strong gallop out.

“I was surprised she lacked so much speed when we first ran her,” Saville said. “She was very immature mentally. When we started her off last year, you could have very easily got her wound up and ran her 5 ½ on the grass at Colonial. I stopped myself from doing it because I thought [long on dirt] was the way forward.”

After the maiden win in her fourth start, Saville ran Late Nite Call in Laurel’s $150,000 Weber City Miss Stakes on April 19.

“When we got started this winter, that was the goal,” Saville said about the Weber City Miss. “I came out of that race frustrated that we didn’t have the ideal preparation. We wanted this allowance race before that race, so we were training, and the race wasn’t going.”

In the Weber City Miss, Late Nite Call finished fourth, beaten four lengths by Complexity Jane. “We broke a step slow and went to the back, and didn’t get to let her run her race,” Saville said.

Saville referenced Conner’s earlier remark about vision, and stated that he might remove blinkers for Late Nite Call’s next start, potentially the Grade 3, $300,000 Delaware Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on June 14.

“I’d like to protect this horse for the long term,” Saville concluded. “Then maybe she goes and has a break, and we have a winter horse, because she loves that heavy dirt track [at Laurel].”

*Around the track:

Trainer Anthony Farrior and jockey Arnaldo Bocachica teamed up for a natural double on Friday’s card as Medagooch ($5.40) wired the field in the third race and Dewy’s Beast ($5.40) stalked and pounced his way to victory in the fourth…17-year-old apprentice rider Yedsit Hazlewood booted home two winners…The first race was declared a no-contest after the starting gate malfunctioned…Live racing resumes at Pimlico on Saturday. The first post time is 12:10 ET…The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) season begins at Pimlico on Saturday. The NTL is an innovative concept that reimagines America’s oldest spectator sport by creating a team-based professional league. This format allows fans to root for their favorite teams. The NTL is also a lifestyle brand, with food, fashion, and fun events akin to the Kentucky Derby or a significant Formula 1 race. On Saturday, Pimlico presents the NTL team series races and meet-and-greet photo opportunities with two-time NFL MVP and Maryland Colts lead owner, Lamar Jackson, jockeys, and other celebrities. Gates open at 11:00 am. ET, with the first post time at 12:10 pm ET…Pimlico hosts the popular “Mother’s Day at the Races” on Sunday between 11 am and 3 pm. For tickets and more information, click here.