Hollywood Park: Breeders' Cup Marathon winner Calidoscopio retired

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Calidoscopio, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita last November, emerged from his win in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park on June 7 with heat in a leg and has been retired, trainer Mike Puype said.

The 10-year-old Calidoscopio is expected to return to Argentina in coming months, Puype said. Calidoscopio began his career in Argentina before being sent to the United States last fall in advance of the BC Marathon.

“He’s got some heat in his right front leg,” Puype said Saturday morning. “He’ll need some time right now. Other than the Breeders’ Cup, there is nothing else to go for this year. He’s got one race on his agenda.”

Owned by Dona Pancha, Calidoscopio won 11 of 42 starts and $975,154. This year, he had two starts, a fifth in the Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita in March and the win in the Brooklyn at 1 1/2 miles, when he closed approximately 22 lengths in the final mile with a six-wide rally to win by a length.

Puype said that Calidoscopio’s age was a determining factor in the retirement decision.

“If he was younger, it wouldn’t be an issue,” he said. “He’s a distance specialist and there aren’t many races that he can run in. It was my recommendation to stop on a high note.”

In the BC Marathon at 1 3/4 miles, Calidoscopio scored a 17-1 upset, closing from last of 13 to win by 4 1/4 lengths.