Candy Overload Finds Sweet Success in Kennedy Road
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Photo: Michael Burns
Candy Overload wins the Kennedy Road Stakes at Woodbine
Candy Overload was full of run late and earned his first stakes victory in the Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and up Nov. 27 at Woodbine.
Multiple graded stakes winner Silent Poet skipped out to lead the field of 10 in the 6-furlong Tapeta event, with even-money choice Arzak pressing through an opening quarter in :22.41, while late-running Candy Overload was unhurried and settled into ninth.
Arzak, a head on top, and Silent Poet continued their upfront battle and took their rivals through a brisk half in :44.85, as Sahin Civaci, aboard Candy Overload, kept the 4-year-old son of Reload running unfettered in eighth place.
The front-end duel continued through three-quarters, as Candy Overload began to circle rivals to the far outside, setting up a clear path down the lane in an attempt to reel in the leaders.
Silent Poet took over the lead at the stretch call, but Ice Chocolat soon arrived on the scene, while Candy Overload continued to gobble up ground, eventually getting the measure of his stablemate, 19-1 Ice Chocolat, to notch a three-quarter-length win in 1:09.17. Lucky Score rallied stoutly to finish third. Silent Poet held on for fourth.
Bred in Ontario by Northern Dawn Stables and Denny Andrews, the bay gelding is trained by Mark Casse for owners Leonard Schleifer, Wachtel Stable, and Gary Barber.
Candy Overload ($17.40) is 4-5-1 from 15 career starts, with earnings of $275,991. The Kennedy Road was his second victory in six starts this year, during which he has run second three times and earned $195,473.
"Today, the races were playing to the speed," Civaci said. "But I knew we had to come off (the pace), so that was a little bit challenging. I had a good trip overall. I had the outside, and when the horse kicked on down the lane, it was clear and he ran good."
Candy Overload made his debut July 12, 2020, at Woodbine, and finished sixth. One race later, he broke his maiden courtesy of a 37-1 upset at 6 1/2 furlongs over the Woodbine Tapeta, the same surface as Sunday's race.
Before the Kennedy Road, Candy Overload was 0-for-3 in graded stakes company. He came in sixth in the 2021 Marine Stakes (G3), second in the Aug. 13 Bold Venture Stakes (G3), and fifth last out in the Sept. 25 Vigil Stakes (G3)—all around the Ontario oval.
Candy Overload is out of the Candy Ride mare Mini Candy, who has two winners from two foals to race. She also has a 3-year-old Jimmy Creed filly named Gimme Candy; Candy Wine, a 2-year-old daughter of Verrazano , and a yearling Reload colt.