NEWS
Sidney’s Candy dominates in turf debut in La Jolla
Posted: Saturday, August 14, 2010 11:00 PM
SIDNEY'S CANDY
Benoit & Associates photo
To view the La Jolla Handicap, click here.
by Steve Bailey
As dominant as Sidney’s Candy had been on synthetic surfaces earlier this season, he may have found a new home on the turf.
The three-year-old Candy Ride (Arg) colt set a Del Mar turf course record for 1 1/16 miles in a 5 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (G2) on Saturday. Sidney’s Candy hustled out of the gate, was pressed by Macias into the far turn, and then took off as if shot from a cannon, driving under mild urging to a dominant win.
Sidney’s Candy covered the distance in a blistering 1:39.52, besting the mark of 1:39.67 set on September 2, 2006, by Mea Domina.
“He worked on [grass] really well last week,” trainer John Sadler said. “We’re thrilled with his performance.
"I knew he was going to take care of the other horse, I was just a little worried that he might set it up for a closer. He's a very good horse and a unique horse in that he set a track record [for 5 1/2 furlongs] as a two-year-old on the Polytrack [surface at Del Mar] and then again at three on the grass. He's a very good horse; a little unlucky in a couple of races and things didn't go right for him in Kentucky, but he's one of the best three-year-olds around.
Sidney’s Candy won three consecutive races earlier in the season, including the Santa Anita Derby (G1), and emerged as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) despite entering the classic having never started on dirt.
Following a disappointing 17th-place finish in the Derby, Sidney’s Candy returned 2½ months later to finish second by a head to Skipshot in the Swaps Stakes (G2) on July 17 on the Cushion Track surface at Hollywood Park in his previous start.
In the La Jolla, Sidney’s Candy and jockey Joel Rosario went straight to the front from their position on the rail and took the field through a quarter-mile in :23.10 and a half-mile in :45.81 while being pushed every step of the way by Macias.
The two horses were far in front of the pack approaching the far turn when Sidney’s Candy found another gear and accelerated powerfully, opening a 13-length advantage in upper stretch and driving to the finish line for the easy victory.
“John [Sadler] doesn't want me to fight him,” Rosario said. “We've got to let him do what he does. He broke so sharp and he just wanted to go. So I let him go.
“I knew we were going fast, but he's such a good horse he can do that. When we turned for home, I opened up with him. I didn't want to be caught. He just kept on going and he wasn't that tired at the end. He's a really nice horse.”
Kid Edward (Ire) finished gamely for second, a half-length in front of Alphie’s Bet.
Sidney’s Candy won for the fifth time in nine starts and boosted his earnings to $803,560. He is one of two winners from as many starters out of the Storm Cat mare Fair Exchange, who is out of multiple Grade 1 winner Exchange.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Mimi, San Antonio, TX on August 18, 2010 at 09:40 PM
"They would have to sprout wings to catch up with him!" LOVE that! This was totally awesome. Look at him people; we're looking at Ruffian style talent here. He leads the field the whole way, and pulls of by 12 and the others catch up to make it 5 1/2. And a new course record! What a great job Sidney's Candy!
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Posted by: racetracker, whocares, MA on August 18, 2010 at 12:48 PM
hey Lexi, check it out.....Did you ever see his dady run and set ntr's on various surfaces at various distances in various countries? Turfing is obvious in his pedigree. I wish some of you non-horsemen couyld work with us in the industry for a minute so you could see just what goes on and have a better understanding of what is involved with testing horses and the labs involved. They can even tell you what kind of vitamins and mineral supplements you give a horses these days let alone scheduled drugs which are ALL detectable with in-depth testing. No trainer wants to lose his license, and those old days are gone. Look at the recent case involving the Louisiana trainer. Maybe Sydneys Candy is just plain this good and a freak on the turf. Lets hope so, so we get to see him perform again and again!
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Posted by: Lexi, WAKEFILED, MA on August 16, 2010 at 12:03 PM
If Mullins or O'Neil trained that horse , I could belive the efforT..but come on , something must be "amiss"? That horse was all out from the get go and never looked like he was slowwing down...Rocket fuel anyone??
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Posted by: Leonard, Lawndale, CA on August 15, 2010 at 11:05 AM
WOW, what an impressive performance that was, they should point Sidney's Candy to the Breeders Cup Mile and his kin Twirling Candy to the Breeders Cup Turf. Both colts were very impressive in their turf debuts. Sidneys Candy I do believe has distance limitations and the B.C. Turf I think is too far he's better suited to the B.C.Mile, lets see what happens. All in all that performance was ultra impressive and lets savior this one for now.
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Posted by: Don, Hayward, CA on August 15, 2010 at 09:59 AM
A very impressive performance. People seem to forget he was the Derby favorite this year. Frank from N.E. is right about the sloppy track compromising his chances that day. I doubt he can get a mile and a half but he will be double tough in the turf mile. I can't think of a turf miler right now with the type of early speed Sidney's Candy possesses. And I doubt he will get the type of pressure the hell bent Macias put on him yesterday..
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