Mike Repole’s Calibrachoa, a five-time New York graded stakes winner, has been retired from racing because of minor issues. Breeding plans are undecided for the 5-year-old son of Southern Image .
“He would need some time off and wouldn’t be able to run in anything meaningful this fall,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who claimed Calibrachoa for Repole for $40,000 in November 2010. “He’s a beautiful horse who had the ability to sprint and run middle distances well. He was a solid racehorse with tactical speed, good conformation, and good looks.”
During his career, Calibrachoa won or placed in nine stakes, all for Repole in New York. Calibrachoa won the Gravesend Stakes in his next start after being claimed and captured the Toboggan Stakes (gr. III) and the Tom Fool Handicap (gr. III) in his next two starts. Later in the year, he won the Bold Ruler Stakes (gr. III) and ran third in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. I), the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I), and the True North Handicap (gr. II).
Calibrachoa started twice this year, winning the Toboggan and the Tom Fool. He recorded a 111 Beyer speed figure in the Tom Fool and a 107 in the Toboggan.
Calibrachoa was retired with a record of 10-3-4 from 20 starts and earnings of $666,040.
Bred in Kentucky by Nelson Bunker Hunt, Calibrachoa is out of the grade II stakes-placed Montbrook mare Fort Lauderdale and is a half brother to stakes-placed Linnea. Fort Lauderdale is a half sister to the dam of two grade I winners including successful young sire Bellamy Road .