NYRA/Adam Coglianese
By Sarah Mace
Curragh Stables’ Caledonian (Concord Point), celebrated turning three on New Year’s Day by winning the first NYRA stakes race of 2017, the open six-furlong, $100,000 Lost in the Fog. In deep stretch after a long drive, the grey colt overtook Always a Suspect, who last out on November 24 had beaten Caledonian by a neck in an open starter allowance at Aqueduct.
Caledonian, who is trained by John Terranova, was teamed up Sunday for the third time in four career starts with jockey Eric Cancel, and went off as the 3-1 third choice in the field of five. Always a Suspect was favored at odds of 3-2.
Despite getting away a little off balance, Caledonian settled solidly in third well off the rail after the bell, a length and a half behind pacesetter Mabrouk, who took the field through an opening quarter mile in 24.05 pressed along by Always a Suspect.
Caledonian began to gear up in the far turn and got set down for the drive in the three path. He moved into second behind new leader Always a Suspect in upper stretch after a half mile in 47.71.
Despite not changing leads until just outside the furlong marker, Caledonian ground down the favorite, engaged him in the final sixteenth and got up in the last few strides to a capture the victory by a determined neck. The rest of the field, consisting of Butch Walker, Cape Lookout and Mabrouk, finished six lengths and and more behind the top two. The final time for the race was 1:12.08.
“I just wanted to stay close to [Always a Suspect and Mabrouk] on the lead,” said jockey Eric Cancel. “My plan was to get close to them and not be too far out of it, so when he kicked, I had a good shot to get there in time. It took him a little bit of time to get there, but he did. It worked out. He was prepared. He’s been training good. I had no doubt he had a chance to win.”
Trainer John Terranova said, “Always a Suspect and Caledonian] look like they’re pretty equal, just traded turns today, I guess. This time, it looked like [Always a Suspect] got the jump, he was little bit more forwardly placed, but our guy keeps grinding, he kept coming at him. Nothing surprising, almost a repeat of last race, just flip flopped a little bit.”
Terranova continued, “I was going to run [Calledonian] in a starter this week, but I don’t know if it was going to go or not, because he still had that condition. Now he’s wiped that one out, so now we’re stuck in stakes, but there could be a lot worse things. I’m happy to be competitive here and can win these races this time of year. We’ll just see how he improves.”
Terranova is considering the $125,000 Rego Park, a 6-furlong sprint for New York-bred 3-year-olds on January 21, for Caledonian’s next start.
Caledonian, who broke his maiden for a $50,000 tag second out on September 21, has earned $96,565 from two firsts and a second. Bred by Kaleem Shah, Inc., he is the first foal out of Dazzling Display, a Kentucky-bred winner by Dehere, purchased by Bob Baffert for Shah, who just announced they have parted ways, at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton February juvenile sale for $250,000.
Dazzling Display has also produced two full siblings to Caledonian: a newly-turned 2yo filly and a yearling colt. She was bred in 2016 to Self Control.
