Caledonia Road takes the overland route to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies glory

Caledonia Road was widest of all throughout Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) but that didn’t stop the bay miss from running down nearly the entire field for an easy win in the 1 1/16-mile affair.

Moonshine Memories led the way early, posting splits of :22.79 and :46.72 while pressured by Alluring Star to her outside. Alluring Star took over through six furlongs in 1:11.38 as Moonshine Memories began tiring, and entered the stretch a clear leader with a two-length advantage.

Meanwhile, jockey Mike Smith was keeping Caledonia Road wide and out of trouble while racing in midpack. The Hall of Fame rider patiently waited before giving his mount the signal, and Caledonia Road took off.

The bay daughter of Quality Road sailed along the outside past the field, going five wide around the turn and hitting the stretch with Alluring Star set in her sights. Caledonia Road easily reeled in the leader and continued drawing off to be 3 1/4 lengths clear while stopping the clock in 1:45.05 over the fast main track.

Campaigned by Zoom and Fish Stable Inc., Charlie Spiring and Newtown Anner Stud, Caledonia Road paid $36.60 for this win as the 17-1 seventh choice in the 13-filly field. Alluring Star held second by a neck over 30-1 shot Blonde Bomber, while Separationofopowers finished another 1 3/4 lengths behind in fourth.

Piedi Bianchi followed the top four under the wire, a head up on Wonder Gadot. Completing the order of finish were 2-1 favorite Moonshine Memories, Princess Warrior, Gio Game, Stainless, Heavenly Love, Maya Malibu and Tell Your Mama.

Caledonia Road easily captured her career debut at Saratoga, posting a 2 3/4-length win in a seven-furlong maiden special weight over the sloppy, sealed track on September 3. She returned a month later on October 8 to make her stakes bow and stretch out to a mile in the Frizette Stakes (G1). The track was labeled good that day, and the Ralph Nicks trainee found herself rallying from the back while wide to be second behind Separationofpowers.

Caledonia Road improved her scorecard to 3-2-1-0 with Saturday’s victory and now boasts $1,229,800 in lifetime earnings.

Bred in Florida by Vegso Racing Stable, Caledonia Road is the first registered stakes winner out of the Dixie Union mare Come a Callin. That mare is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Citizen Advocate.

This female family boasts Grade 1 victors Hymn Book and Data Link.