Calimonco to forget the rest and hope for the best in the Citation at Hollywood Park
The Kentucky bred Calimonco, who started trying his luck in stakes race company recently after dwelling in allowance races for far too long. However, his introduction to stakes races was turning out to be a good decision until Calimonco produced a seventh place finish in his last start in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile to winner Jeranimo.
His connections would like to forget about the loss when they participate in the Garde 2 Citation Handicap over at 1 1/16 miles on Hollywood Park’s turf course on 26 November, 2011, a race which has drawn 9 three-year-old and above runners.
Larry Benavidez, assistant to trainer John Sadler, will be looking to scratch out the memories of that race and start building on the good work Calimonco has done to get to this level.
Calimonco got beaten by 16 lengths on the day, “We’re at a loss to explain his last race; it was a big disappointment,” said Benavidez
The 5-year-old son of Storm Cat, out of mare Sweet Life by Kris S, Calimonco kicked off his stakes racing debut in the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar on 27 July, 2011.
It was over at mile on Del Mar’s turf course, as Calimonco defeated the likes of John Johny Jak and Victory Pete, with the winning time of 1 minute and 34.07 seconds.
His next assignment was the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap also at Del Mar’s turf course, where on 27 August, 2011, Calimonco got beat but kept his pride intact as he finished on the board behind the winner Caracortado and the second placed Mr. Commons.
Caracortado topped the mile distance in 1 minute and 34.24 seconds.
Calimonco will face runners who he has run against in the past, the likes of John Johny Jak, who is coming into the Grade 2 Citation Handicap off a victory in the Lure Stakes for trainer K Mulhall.
Most importantly, Calimonco will face his Oak Tree Mile tormentor, Jeranimo, once again in the Citation Handicap. Jeranimo was entered in the Grade 1 $ 5million Breeders’ Cup Mile, but he finishes seventh there.
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