Caledonia Road captures Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

Nov 04, 2017 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

Zoom and Fish Stable Inc., Charles Spiring and Newtown Anner Stud’s Caledonia Road romped by 3 1/4 lengths in Saturday’s $1,840,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar with jockey Mike Smith aboard.

The duo were sent off the 17-1 seventh choice in the 13-filly field, but proved best when grabbing command in the lane and drawing off to finish 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.05. Caledonia Road paid $36.60 for earning her first stakes win.

The score not only added black-type to the Quality Road filly’s resume, it awarded her 20 points toward a starting berth in next year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1). Caledonia Road debuted on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard thanks to finishing second in the October 8 Frizette Stakes (G1) last out at Belmont Park, and now tops the early list with 24 total points.

Trained by Ralph Nicks, Caledonia Road improved her career record to 3-2-1-0, $1,229,800, with Saturday’s score. The filly’s other win came when she broke her maiden at first asking on September 4 at Saratoga by 2 3/4 lengths.

Alluring Star led the way late in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but was run down by Caledonia Road and forced to settle for second. The bay miss already had a spot on the Leaderboard thanks to her runner-up effort in the September 30 Chandelier Stakes (G1) last out, but moved up quite a few levels when earning 10 points in Saturday’s contest. She now boasts 12 total points.

Blonde Bomber makes a first appearance on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard after just missing second by a neck in the Juvenile Fillies. The gray daughter of Fort Larned earned four points for her third-place finish. The Stanley Gold charge romped by 7 1/4 lengths in the Our Dear Peggy Stakes at Gulfstream Park on September 30 and was sent off at 30-1 in this spot.

Separationofpowers took up the second spot on the Oaks Leaderboard with her fourth-place run on Saturday at Del Mar. The Candy Ride filly captured the Frizette last out by 3 1/2 lengths, but found herself 1 3/4 lengths behind Blonde Bomber when fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She now owns 12 points.