Our Caravan upsets Ring Weekend in Calder Derby

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Miami Gardens, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Our Caravan, ridden by Manny Cruz, upset odds-on favorite Ring Weekend to capture Saturday's $250,000 Calder Derby at Calder Race Course.

Ring Weekend, the Tampa Bay Derby winner, went off as the 3-10 favorite in the nine-horse field. Our Caravan and Cleburne were the 5-1 co-second picks for the 1 1/8-mile stakes.

Trained by Michael Dilger, Our Caravan stalked the pace being set by Charlie the Boss with Ring Weekend racing in third. Our Caravan began his move to the lead on the far turn and had a two-length lead over the favorite at the top of the stretch.

Our Caravan drew off down the stretch and registered a dominating 9 3/4- length win over Ring Weekend with Cleburne rallying for third. General Sham'mah was fourth followed by Copa Del Rey, Gaining Ground, Racetrack Romance, Charlie the Boss and Russian Humor. Tapicero was scratched.

The time for the Calder Derby was 1:54.32 on a fast track.

"I knew the number two (Ring Weekend) was tough in there coming from a good horse trainer and everybody," said Cruz. "The rest of the field I didn't worry about. I rode my horse. The two, I had to watch him, but I rode very confident."

Owned by Anstu Stables, Our Caravan posted his first stakes victory and pocketed $155,000. The colt has won two of his four career starts for $180,200.

"All we did was add blinkers," said Dilger. "It just goes to show how strong the field was in the Fountain of Youth. We're heading back to New York. Maybe the Peter Pan."

Our Caravan broke his maiden in his debut start in December at Gulfstream Park. Remaining at Gulfstream, he finished eighth to Cairo Prince in the Holy Bull Stakes on Jan. 25 and four weeks later was seventh behind Wildcat Red in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

Our Caravan returned $13.20, $4.00 and $2.60. Ring Weekend paid $2.20 and $2.10, and Cleburne paid $2.60 to show.