In preparation for the Belmont I watched the Brooklyn Handicap, a grade II stakes race that ran in the rain at Belmont today. I hope that tomorrow’s race is a good one but for pure suspense, you just can’t beat Calidoscopio. The 10 year old Argentinian horse won the $200,000 race coming from 22 lengths off the lead on a very sloppy track. The race is the same length as the Belmont – 1 1/2 miles.
Calidoscopio is the first 10-year-old in history to win a graded stakes race on dirt.
He won the 2012 Breeder’s Cup Marathon — which is a very long 1 3/4 miles — the same way. Until the stretch run, he is so far behind that he doesn’t look like he’s even in the race. Then, he explodes with a massive run. Gotta love this guy.
Calidoscopio was bred by Haras La Quebrada and has won two of his three U.S. starts. In his second race, jockey Aaron Gryder tried to keep him closer to the pace and he faded to fifth. In this race he went back to what worked for the Breeder’s Cup — letting him gallop along off the pace for the first mile or so and then letting him rip.
Calidoscopio has won 11 out of 43 races, including eight stakes races in in Argentina and won $927,282. He won the Breeders’ Cup Marathon last November in his North American debut.
Check out his Breeder’s Cup Marathon win below.
One of the best closers ever! Is he a gelding though? I’m having trouble finding out for sure. I assumed he was, given the fact that he’s still racing at his age. But I see him officially listed as “horse”.
You know, I assumed he was a gelding too. But I double checked and he’s listed as a “horse” so I guess he’s still intact. Thanks for catching that.
Gelded or intact….. He’s amazing! And quite a character too, it seems.