Calusa First Winner for Freshman Sire Aloha West

Calusa became the first winner for freshman sire Aloha West with a front-running 3 1/4-length debut victory July 25 at Gulfstream Park. The Joseph Catanese III-owned and -trained 2-year-old gelding raced 5 furlongs on a firm turf course in :55.95. The Florida-bred earned $21,300 in taking the maiden claiming contest, which carried a $35,740 purse and in which the five juveniles raced for a $35,000 claiming price. He paid $14.60 to win. Matalona Thoroughbreds bred the winner out of the Havana Gold (IRE) mare Belacqua (IRE). Calusa is among eight 2-year-old starters this year for Aloha West, who stood this past breeding season at Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky for $6,500. His other juveniles include Ohana Lulu, second in both of her starts and entered in a July 31 maiden special weight at Ellis Park. Aloha West is a 9-year-old son of Hard Spun out of the grade 3-winning Speightstown mare Island Bound. He entered stud at Mill Ridge Farm in 2023 for a $10,000 fee after capping a career in which he won six of 13 starts and more than $1.5 million. He raced predominantly for owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trainer Wayne Catalano. In his signature victory in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar, Aloha West caught multiple grade 1 winner Dr. Schivel by a nose.