Danzing Candy to Make First Start for Baffert

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) pacesetter Danzing Candy, who moved to Bob Baffert's barn after he finished 15th on the First Saturday in May for trainer Cliff Sise, will make the first start for his new trainer July 2 in the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park.

The son of Twirling Candy  , who defeated Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) winner Exaggerator three starts back in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), will drop significantly in class for the 1 1/16-mile Affirmed.

BALAN: Danzing Candy Moves to Baffert Barn

Only one other entrant in the five-colt field, last-out allowance winner Dalmore, has won a race outside of the maiden ranks. Danzing Candy has three wins from six starts, with earnings of $358,650. Dalmore is also the only other entrant with earnings in six figures, checking in at $127,302, with a 2-3-0 record from 10 starts.

The field does, however, feature other horses with the potential to show early speed, but it remains to be seen whether Beaumarchais, who won a $75,000 maiden claiming event in gate-to-wire fashion last time out, or Curlin Rules, who ran third to Dalmore May 29, can challenge Danzing Candy on the front end.

Danzing Candy's penchant to run off was a problem for Sise and previous jockey Mike Smith, who piloted the colt in his last five starts. Danzing Candy, owned by breeder Halo Farms and Jim and Dianne Bashor, ran the first half-mile in the Santa Anita Derby in :45 1/5, then followed that with a :45 3/5 half in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and tired severely in both. The Affirmed will not only be the colt's first start for Baffert but also his first with perennial Santa Anita leading jockey Rafael Bejarano.

The final entrant is Prince of Arabia, who finished second to Dalmore in the May 29 allowance, which preceded a ninth-place run on the Santa Anita grass June 18 in the Rainbow Stakes.