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Calibrachoa scores popular Toboggan win 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).
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