Danzing Candy the One to Catch in San Carlos

Bob Baffert has a situation brewing that none of his peers will have much sympathy for.

It's not enough that the Hall of Fame conditioner can look down his shedrow and see the best handicap horse in training—commonly known as champion Arrogate—each morning. Over last several weeks, barely a race weekend has gone by without another older talent from his barn showing up in a graded test and throwing down an effort that leaves any would-be challengers thoroughly humbled. 

With so many improving contenders on his plate, Baffert is going to need some options if he wants to keep his Murderers' Row apart for the time being. It's a good thing, then, that multiple graded stakes winner Danzing Candy has already proven himself capable in couple different avenues over his 10-race career.

The parade of Baffert-trained top threats is set to march on this weekend with Danzing Candy installed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite to keep the train rolling in the $250,000 San Carlos Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park July 1. 

Even by Baffert's standards, the last month and half has been ridiculous in terms of production—particularly from his older horses. Mor Spirit got the ball rolling when he handily took the Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) May 7 with Danzing Candy adding to the trend when he captured the 1 1/16-mile Lone Star Park Handicap (G3) by 4 3/4 lengths May 28—the first graded score for the son of Twirling Candy   since his win in the 2016 San Felipe Stakes (G2).

The weeks since have seen Mor Spirit add a brilliant 6 1/4-length triumph in the Mohegan Sun Metropolitan Handicap (G1) with fellow 4-year-old Collected jumping up June 24 to air foes out by 14 lengths in the Precisionist Stakes (G3). In shortening Danzing Candy up to seven furlongs in the San Carlos, Baffert hopes the colt —who is also stakes placed on turf—can best flaunt his early speed and open up even more opportunities going forward.

"He's just a fast horse and we figured we'd try this and if he did well going seven-eighths, we could bring him back in the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar, which is a (Breeders' Cup) 'Win and You're  In' race for the Dirt Mile," Baffert said. "That would be an option right there. He didn't run too bad on the turf either so he is very versatile. He has a lot of natural speed and he's doing really well right now. His race at Texas was really fantastic.

"I'm trying to manage these horses the best I can. This came up and it looked like it would be a good spot, even though he's in the No. 1 hole. But I think he's good."

Danzing Candy broke his maiden going seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park in Dec. 2015 and has earned four of his five career wins at the Arcadia track. Previously trained by Clifford Sise Jr., the dark bay colt made his first start for Baffert last July when he ran second in the Affirmed Stakes (G3). He opened his 2017 campaign with a third-place run on the downhill course in the March 4 Joe Hernandez Stakes before taking a one-mile allowance in gate-to-wire fashion at Santa Anita May 5.

Bred by Halo Farms, who owns the colt along with Jim and Dianne Bashor,  Danzing Candy will have Hall of Famer Mike Smith at the helm when he heads up the field of five in the San Carlos.

Kobe's Back used his late kick to capture last year's edition of the San Carlos over Coastline but hasn't found his way to the winner's circle in four starts since. The 6-year-old son of Flatter   was most  recently fourth in the Kona Gold Stakes (G2) behind race winner and fellow San Carlos entrant Ransom the Moon May 20.

The Kona Gold marked the first graded outing for Ransom the Moon, the late-blooming 5-year-old son of Malibu Moon   trained by Phil D'Amato. The bay horse handled that step into deeper waters after previously earning a 4 1/4-length win in a 6 1/2 furlong allowance race at Santa Anita April 30.

San Carlos S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, July 01, 2017, Race 4

• 7f
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 2:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Danzing Candy (KY)	Mike E. Smith	122	Bob Baffert	4/5
2	2Coastline (KY)	Jamie Theriot	122	Philip D'Amato	8/1
3	3Ransom the Moon (ON)	Flavien Prat	126	Philip D'Amato	5/2
4	4Cool Cowboy (KY)	Joseph Talamo	122	Seth Benzel	6/1
5	5Kobe's Back (KY)	Gary L. Stevens	122	Peter Eurton	9/2