Scalding Makes the Grade in Challenger
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Photo: SV Photography
Scalding holds off Cody's Wish to win the Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs
Scalding handled a step up to graded company with aplomb March 12 in the $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.
The 4-year-old son on Nyquist has progressed steadily for trainer Shug McGaughey this season in Florida, breaking his maiden in January at Gulfstream Park, winning an allowance-level event in February at Tampa, and coming back Saturday to build a three-race win streak while taking home his first graded score.
With Javier Castellano in the irons for Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, and LNJ Foxwoods, Scalding broke well from post 6 in a seven-horse field and set out to track pacesetter Wolfie's Dynaghost three deep headed into the backstretch of the 1 1/16-mile test. Third as the quarter went in :23.53, he closed the gap to get within two lengths of the leader through a :48.14 half while shifting inwards. As three-quarters went in 1:12.89, Cody's Wish began his rally after breaking a step slow, and the two hooked up with Wolfie's Dynaghost in midstretch before that rival faded. Continuing through a 1:37.53 mile, Scalding maintained the advantage and pulled ahead to win by a neck over Cody's Wish in a final time of 1:43.53 on a main track rated good.
"I like the way he did it today," Castellano said. "He's straightforward. When I asked him he responded really well. He passed the pacemaker and the horses on the lead and he was comfortable coming from behind. I like the way he finished."
Off at odds of 5-1, Scalding returned $12.60 on a $2 win ticket. After Cody's Wish came Dynamic One to complete the trifecta.
Scalding's stablemate Greatest Honour ran a non-threatening sixth in his first start in almost a year.
Hidden Stash , Shirl's Speight , and War Stopper were scratched.
"It's a big job going from an allowance/other than condition to this spot, but we've always liked this horse," McGaughey said. "He has been training forwardly and from what we saw today, his future is definitely (bright). He had a race over the track, and I think that probably helped him. He is a pretty talented number and his last two races had been so good, with a little encouragement from the owners we decided to take a shot, and it worked."
Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin and Cobalt Investments, Scalding is the first graded winner out of the unraced Medaglia d'Oro mare Hot Water, who has produced four winners from five starters. She is also the dam of the grade 3-placed black-type winner Tracksmith (by Street Sense ) and the stakes-placed Tortuga (Bodemeister ).
Her 3-year-old Speighster filly Hot and Sultry broke her maiden Jan. 23 at Oaklawn Park for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong and trainer Steve Asmussen. She has an unraced Runhappy 2-year-old colt named Runhappy d'Oro and an unnamed Omaha Beach yearling filly. She was bred to War of Will for 2022.
Scalding was a $400,000 purchase by Solis/Litt from Bluewater Sales' consignment to the 2019 edition of The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.