Caledonia Road

Zoom and Fish Stable, Charlie Spring and Newtown Anner Stud’s Caledonia Road roared past Alluring Star at the sixteenth pole and drew off to win the 2017 $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) for 2-year-olds by 3 ¼ lengths to kick off the second day of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack.

Trained by Ralph Nicks and ridden by Mike Smith, Caledonia Road covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:45.05. It was the second win in three career starts for Caledonia Road, a Florida-bred daughter of Quality Road.

The victory was the ongoing record 26th for Smith in the Breeders’ Cup and third in the Juvenile Fillies.

Caledonia Road started in the 12th post position in the 13 horse field at odds of better than 17-1 in the Juvenile Fillies. Smith settled her in towards the rear of the pack through six furlongs and then made a sweeping move with three furlongs remaining to catch the leader Alluring Star in the stretch and drew away to victory.

“This filly has come into her own this fall and her timing was impeccable,” said Nicks “This run down the stretch is kind of her style. This is my first win and it’s on my third try. It’s just amazing.”

Winning jockey Smith was equally effusive in his praise for the filly. “She was dynamite. She was much more forwardly placed than I expected her to be, to be honest. She was up there intent on getting into the game and running good. She was in a good rhythm, breathing well. I gave her a breather from the half-mile pole to the three-and-a half because she kind of wanted one. When I stepped on the accelerator again, man, she jumped back on it and I knew I was going to be live from that point on.”

Caledonia Road was purchased at the Keeneland September 2016 for $140,000 by co-owners Luke Paiement and Charlie Spiring. Paiement named her after the street on which he resides.

Caledonia Road broke her maiden over a sloppy track at Saratoga on September 3, 2017. She finished 3 ½ lengths behind Separationofpowers in second place in her next start, the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park on October, before her arrival in California.

Caledonia Road was voted Champion 2-year-old Filly of 2017.

In early 2018, Caledonia Road had a bone chip removed and a virus that prevented her from making her first start until April 29 when she won an allowance optional claiming at Belmont Park. She started next in the Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont, and finished fifth. Following the race, it was discovered that Caledonia Road had developed bone bruising and was retired on July 3.

“It will be tough to let her go,” said managing partner Luc Paiement of Zoom and Fish Stable. “She was a brilliant 2-year-old with a pedigree to be a much better older filly. She has all the makings of a top broodmare.”