Sweet San Felipe Victory for Danzing Candy
Image:
Description:
Danzing Candy made his stakes debut a winning one with a visually impressive victory on Saturday in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Jeremy Balan, @BH_JBalan
Welcome to the party, Danzing Candy.
Unraced until November of 2015, the Twirling Candy colt emphatically announced his arrival on the Triple Crown trail with a gate-to-wire, two-length score over favored Mor Spirit in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 12 at Santa Anita Park.
After winning his second start in December and a one-mile allowance/optional claiming race in February, the colt owned by breeder Halo Farms, in partnership with Jim and Diane Bashor, set the pace with fractions of :22.96, :46.11, and 1:11.04 through three-quarters of a mile and shook off a challenge from Exaggerator on the final turn. Then, in the stretch of the 1 1/16-mile dirt test, he comfortably held off a late run from Mor Spirit.
Exaggerator finished three-quarters of a length back in third.
ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD
With Mike Smith aboard, Danzing Candy ran a mile in 1:36.38 and finished up in 1:43.04 for trainer Cliff Sise. Although he had a comfortable lead throughout, Smith preempted criticisms that his colt got away with an easy front-running trip.
“He didn’t get away with anything,” the jockey said. “If you go :22 on this track today, you’re smokin’. And for him to hold off the caliber of horses he held off — [that] was very impressive."
Sise said Danzing Candy will stay home for his last Triple Crown prep, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9.
“He’s three-for-three on this track,” the trainer said. “Why would we change now? I don’t see any reason to, but you never know. You’ve got to leave that up to the owners.”
Sent off as the 5.50-to-1 fourth betting choice, Danzing Candy paid $13 to win, $5.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Mor Spirit, the 8-5 favorite, returned $3.40 and $2.20, while Exaggerator paid $2.40 to show.
For Mor Spirit, winner of the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, trainer Bob Baffert was ultimately pleased with his second-place run Saturday. Baffert also said the Eskendereya colt would stay home for the Santa Anita Derby.
“He ran well”" Baffert said. “That horse that won is a pretty good horse. ... He’s coming on. A mile and an eighth will be more to his liking, but he got a lot out of it today.”
Uncle Lino raced in second most of the way, but tired to finish fourth, followed by Smokey Image and I Will Score, to complete the order of finish.
Danzing Candy was bred in Kentucky, out of the Songandaprayer mare Talkin and Singing, and now has three wins from four starts with earnings of $308,650.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
DANZING CANDY (inside) HOLDS ON TO WIN SAN FELIPE
Photo by Eclipse Sportswire