By Steve Sherack
Rockingham Ranch's Chalon (Dialed In) certainly stamped herself as a filly with a bright future after dueling clear to graduate by 2 1/4 lengths over a highly regarded 1-5 favorite in her five-furlong Santa Anita debut back on June 23 (video).
The $32,000 FTKOCT yearling and $110,000 BARMAR juvenile hasn't faced the starter since, however, but that effort continues to look even better as she aims to launch her sophomore campaign this spring.
The aforementioned well-meant firster that Chalon defeated that day? None other than the streaking 'TDN Rising Star' Unique Bella (Tapit), who has gone on to win her next three attempts by daylight, including blowout victories in the GII Santa Ynez S. Jan. 8 and GII Las Virgenes S. Feb. 5.
“With the success of Unique Bella and Dialed In this past year, we feel we have something special,” Rockingham Ranch's Brian Trump commented. “While she did defeat Unique Bella, everyone knew that horse was going to be better going long. We were just disappointed to not be able to get Chalon going and see how she progressed with age and distance.”
Chalon most recently completed a four-furlong breeze in :48.60 (13/38) at trainer Peter Miller's San Luis Rey base Feb. 16. Bred in Kentucky by J. K. and Linda Griggs, Chalon hails from the first crop of last year's leading freshman sire Dialed In and is out of the two-time winning Menifee mare Fall Fantasy.
“Chalon is coming along nicely,” Trump said. “Time off has treated her well. She will be working [again] this week and we're hoping to have her back at the races again in six weeks. She has matured very nicely.”
He continued, “We are very anxious and excited to see her get back out there. Her injury is kind of a mystery, quite honestly. It didn't happen in a race or a work that we know of. One day she was fine and the next, she was off in her back. Nothing showed up on any X-rays or scans. The vet said the best thing for her would be 90 days off, and see how she is. The rest seems to have worked and she looks great. She put on some weight and developed nicely into a more physically mature filly. We can't wait to get her back out there.”
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