Caledonia Road on Track for Acorn

Last year's Eclipse champion 2-year-old filly Caledonia Road (Quality Road), absent from the major races this spring, will look to get back in the mix at the top of her division when she faces the likes of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the June 9 GI Acorn S. at Belmont Park. The bay filly tuned up for the one-mile race with a bullet five-furlong work in :59.87 (1/12) at Belmont Saturday.

“She is doing good,” said trainer Ralph Nicks. “We are looking forward to getting her started in the Acorn. We all know it's not going to be an easy race, there are some very accomplished fillies, like Monomoy Girl, in there. And going the one-turn mile, they are going to be hard for us to catch, I would think. I expect a very good effort from her and hopefully there will be enough pace to help us out a little bit. But it will be good to get a good race in her and we are looking forward to the two-turn races.”

Caledonia Road, second in the GI Frizette S. going one mile at Belmont in just her second career start last October, claimed her championship with a 3 1/4-length win in the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She resurfaced with an authoritative victory in a one-mile allowance in Elmont Apr. 29.

“Absolutely,” Nicks said when asked if Caledonia Road had moved forward from her sophomore debut. “Look at her works. Her works have been good this year. She's a much better work horse and she's done well.”