After a viral infection halted her preparation for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) last month, Caledonia Road‘s Plan B swings into action Sunday at Belmont Park when the champion juvenile filly faces four older rivals in an $80,000 second-level allowance/optional claimer going one mile. The season debut will serve as her prep for the $700,000 Acorn (G1) at Belmont, also over a mile, on the June 9 Belmont Stakes undercard.
Trained by Ralph Nicks, Caledonia Road captured her debut in the slop at Saratoga, was a rallying second in the Frizette (G1), and then dominated her rivals in an Eclipse Award-clinching victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar, winning by 3 1/4 lengths under Mike Smith. Junior Alvarado, who rode the daughter of Quality Road in her first two starts, reclaims the mount Sunday.
Already behind schedule in her Oaks preparation following surgery to remove an ankle chip over the winter, the viral infection contracted last month following a reported lethargic work ended the champion’s quest to make the $1 million Oaks on May 4.
The third race on a nine-race program, the field also includes Crimson Frost, who passed the allowance condition in February and runs for the optional $62,500 tag on Sunday. Last-out first-level allowance scorer Total Control was cross-entered here and to another race at Belmont on Saturday.
