A productive week that began with an acceptance of an Eclipse Award for
juvenile colt champion Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) ended on a high note for owner
Repole Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher when CALIBRACHOA (Southern Image) won
his second consecutive stakes for the connections in Saturday’s $98,000
Toboggan
S. (G3) at Aqueduct. The 2-5 favorite in a field reduced to five due to
three scratches, Calibrachoa had to work a little bit to hold off the strong
inside bid of Independence War (Red Bullet) to garner the win by a half-length
under Ramon Dominguez.
Bobbling and bumping slightly with a rival leaving the gate, Calibrachoa
moved into a stalking position as 31-1 outsider Fastus Cactus (Cactus Ridge)
seized the early lead while racing well off the rail down the backside. The
favorite raced in tandem with Endless Circle (Precise End), a couple of lengths
behind the leader who got a quarter-mile in :22 4/5. The gap narrowed to a
length after a half-mile in :45 3/5, and at the top of the stretch both
Calibrachoa and Endless Circle took aim at Fastus Cactus.
While Endless Circle drove up the rail to take the lead a furlong out,
Calibrachoa stayed outside that one and the tiring Fastus Cactus. Meanwhile,
Independence War began rallying from fourth and split Endless Circle and
Calibrachoa to take a short lead inside the furlong marker. The race came down
to Independence War and Calibrachoa as Endless Circle began to tire, and it was
Calibrachoa who was going slightly better of the two in the end. The final time
for six furlongs over the fast inner dirt was 1:09 3/5.
Calibrachoa returned $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Independence War, second by a
length at 14-1, gave back $6.20 and $2.60, while 3-1 second choice Temecula
Creek (Gulch) came on the scene late for third and paid $2.10. It was two
lengths back to Endless Circle and 2 3/4 lengths farther to Fastus Cactus. The
exacta was worth $18 and the 1-2-6 trifecta was $37.40.
Scratched from the Toboggan were Flat Bold (Flatter), Jack On the Rocks (Outflanker)
and Driven by Success (Precise End). The latter was Calibrachoa’s entrymate, who
will instead run in Wednesday’s Mr. International S. for New York-breds at
Aqueduct.
“The General George (H. [G2] at Laurel on February 21) is a possibility,”
Pletcher said. “(Where he races next) may depend on Driven by Success. We might
split the two up and run one here and one there. We’ll see how Driven does on
Wednesday and go for there. The Tom Fool (H. [G3]) at Aqueduct March 5) would
probably be a little better timing for (Calibrachoa).”
Calibrachoa was bred in Kentucky by Nelson Bunker Hunt, who initially raced
the dark bay four-year-old. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Calibrachoa passed his
first two allowance conditions for those connections before descending into the
claiming ranks. He was haltered by Pletcher for $40,000 following a 4 1/4-length
triumph at Aqueduct on November 18, and proceeded to win the December 18
Gravesend S. going six furlongs on the Big A’s inner dirt. The Toboggan victory
elevated his career earnings to $220,540 from a line of 12-6-3-1.
Calibrachoa was produced from the Grade 2-placed Fort Lauderdale (Montbrook),
making him a half-brother to the stakes-placed Linnea (Candy Ride [Arg]), an
unnamed juvenile filly by Northern Afleet and a yearling colt by Mutakddim. Fort
Lauderdale herself is a half-sister to the dam of Grade 1 winner Bellamy Road
(Concerto).
This female family has produced the likes of Grade 1 winners General Assembly
(Secretariat), Versailles Treaty (Danzig), Gold Fever (Forty Niner) and Chief
Honcho (Chief’s Crown); Grade 2 winners Saarland (Unbridled) and Jackpot
(Seeking the Gold); and Grade 3 winners Out of Place (Cox’s Ridge), Lead Kindly
Light (Majestic Light), Expressive Dance (Riva Ridge) and For Kicks (Topsider).