NEWS
Sidney’s Candy makes all the pace in San Felipe
Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 9:12 PM
SIDNEY'S CANDY
Benoit & Associates photo
To view the San Felipe Stakes, click here.
by Tim Nichols
Sidney’s Candy and jockey Joe Talamo set dawdling fractions on the front end and capitalized by holding off Interactif to win the $150,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
Much like his victory in the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes (G2) in his previous start on February 15, Sidney’s Candy raced alone in front before pulling away to victory and solidifying his credentials for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
“For him to go from a seven-eighths sprint to a mile and a sixteenth and relax like that is amazing,” Talamo said. “We knew last summer he was a quality horse, and the way he did this today was so impressive. He has the demeanor of an older horse.”
Breaking from post position five, the three-year-old Candy Ride (Arg) colt seized the early lead through a quarter-mile in :24.39, a half-mile in :48.55, and six furlongs in 1:13.53 as American Lion raced in second and Interactif followed in third.
Entering the stretch, previously unbeaten Caracortado made a bold move along the outside under jockey Paul Atkinson. The Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) winner failed to match Sidney’s Candy's stride, however, as the pacesetter extended his lead in the stretch.
“When I saw those splits, I was pretty confident,” winning trainer John Sadler said.
Interactif closed well but was second best as Sidney’s Candy won by a half-length, covering 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface in 1:42.30.
Sidney’s Candy, ranked 11th in the latest THOROUGHBRED TIMES Road to the Triple Crown poll, will be pointed to the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 3.
A Sid and Jenny Craig Trust homebred, Sidney’s Candy improved to three wins from five starts and earnings of $223,560. He is one of two winners from as many starters out of the placed Storm Cat mare Fair Exchange. Multiple Grade 1 winner Exchange is the grandam of Sidney’s Candy.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor of Thoroughbred Times
