by Michael Burns

Haras Matancilla's homebred Candy Doll rallied from off the pace to upset El Ensayo Cristal (Chi-G1) (Chilean Derby) winner Paloma Infiel by three-quarters of a length in the Clasico Las Oaks (Chi-G1) on Sunday at Club Hipico de Santiago.
 
Under Richard Castillo, the three-year-old Dushyantor filly closed strongly on the inside to overhaul favorite Paloma Infiel en route to a breakthrough victory over Chile’s top three-year-old fillies on turf.

Candy Doll’s stablemate, multiple stakes winner Mi Poema, finished another three lengths back in third with No Es Por Na fourth in the 15-horse field.

Trained by Juan Cavieres, Candy Doll covered 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) on firm turf in 1:59.17 to pick up her first group stakes victory and second win in five career starts.

Candy Doll is out of the wining Fappavalley mare Costa Norte, dam of multiple stakes winner Caucus. She hails from the immediate family of champions Crisantemo (Chi), Crystal House (Chi), and Crystal Clear.

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent