Bandbox, Rascal Cat Represented by First Winners
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Photo: Courtesy of Northview Stallion Station
Bandbox at Northview Stallion Station in Maryland
Two freshman sires had their first winners this weekend, with Northview Stallion Station's Bandbox represented by He's Not Curly Sept. 8, and Arkansas State University Equine Center's Rascal Cat represented by Rascal Candy Sept. 9.
Step Up Thoroughbreds' Maryland-bred He's Not Curly overcame a difficult start that left him last of 10 after leaving the gate in a one-mile waiver maiden claiming race at Laurel Park that was originally scheduled for the turf. The gelded son of Bandbox was able to regroup and recover over the sloppy (sealed) track and won by a half-length in 1:40.96.
He's Not Curly, trained by James Lawrence II, finished eighth in his only other start, also at Laurel. Bred by Carl Lanier, he is out of the Curlin mare She's Curly.
Bandbox, a grade 3-winning son of Tapit , began his career with three straight wins, including a 9 1/2-length score in the Charles Town Juvenile Stakes. A fourth-place finish in the Remsen Stakes (G2) ended that streak, but he returned to win or place in five other stakes, two graded, before retiring with a record of 5-4-1 from 15 starts and $390,345 in earnings.
Bandbox has stood at Northview Stallion Station in Maryland for a fee of $2,500 since his retirement to stud in 2015.
Trained by owner/breeder Guy Kling of Manitoba, Canada, Rascal Candy took the Buffalo Stakes by one length after leading throughout the one-mile, $25,000 non-black-type stakes.
The race was the first victory for Rascal Candy, who finished second in his three previous starts, all at Assiniboia Downs. The gelding is out of the Candy Ride mare Yankee Candy.
Rascal Cat, a son of Pulpit, stood 2015-16 at Running Fawcett Thoroughbreds in Alberta, Canada, before being sent to Arkansas State University.