'TDN Rising Star' Danzing Candy, making just his fourth lifetime start, proved he was a force to be reckoned with on the Triple Crown trail, going wire-to-wire and holding off the late-closing favorite Mor Spirit to win Saturday's GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita by two lengths.
Off at 5-1, Danzing Candy asserted control going into the first turn and was loose on the lead through quick splits of :22.96 and :46.11. Exaggerator, well back in last in the early going, bullied his way through the field leaving the backstretch and made a swift and ominous move around the home bend to loom a threat at the top of the lane, but Danzing Candy skipped clear again. Favored Mor Spirit was tipped out from the rail to overtake Exaggerator and finished well without threatening the winner. Exaggerator survived a claim of foul by fourth-place finisher Uncle Lino (Uncle Mo) for interference around the final bend.
“Our game plan was to put him on the lead unless he didn't jump out of there well,” confirmed winning jockey Mike Smith. “We didn't want to experiment. We wanted to play our hand, right off the bat. 'Let's go to the lead and if they want to go with us, we'll be probably be going too fast and if that's the case, that's the case.' We were going to worry about it next time. We did it. I left there very aggressive and he didn't get away with anything. If you go :22 on this track today, you're smokin.' And for him to hold off the caliber of horses he held off, was very impressive.”
Of what is next for Danzing Candy, trainer Cliff Sise said, “We'll stay for the [Apr. 9 GI] Santa Anita Derby. He's three for three on this track. Why would we change now? I don't see any reason to, but you never know. You've got to leave that up to the owners.”
Ted Aroney, whose Halo Farms bred and co-owns Danzing Candy has been down this road before. Aroney's Hear the Ghost (Ghostzapper) captured the 2013 GII San Felipe S., but was forced out of the Derby picture by a knee injury.
The longtime owner, a retired real estate developer, was basking in his most recent San Felipe winner Saturday.
“I'm so excited with the way he ran today,” Aroney said. “I was disappointed after his first race, but then his second and third race showed us how game he is. He gets to the lead and he's so game.”
Danzing Candy, eighth behind Uncle Lino after a tardy start in his Nov. 29 debut at Del Mar, graduated with a front-running 3 1/4-length tally at Santa Anita Dec. 26 and earned Rising Star status with an authoritative 5 3/4-length optional-claimer victory going one mile at this oval Feb. 4.
Gary Stevens, aboard Mor Spirit, was far from discouraged by the favorite's runner-up effort.
“I'm super happy, because he was way too keen in the early part of the race–he was really fresh, hasn't run for a while,” Stevens said. “He was super sharp. As I was coming into the lane, I knew I wasn't going to catch the winner, but I knew we had to get some [Kentucky Derby] points here. I like where we're sitting for the Santa Anita Derby. I lost a battle today, but I like our position. Bob [Baffert] was happy, so I'm happy. We got a lot out of today's race. He'll settle a little better for me in the Santa Anita Derby.”
Baffert added, “He ran well. The horse that won is a pretty good horse. I wanted to run first, second or third. He's coming on. A mile and an eighth will be more to his liking, but he got a lot out of it today. I'm happy with the way he went and we're learning more about him. He'll stay here for the Santa Anita Derby.”
Trainer Keith Desormeaux is looking for Exaggerator, most recently second behind champion Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in the Feb. 15 GII San Vicente S., to move forward off his third-place effort Saturday.
“He ran nice and steady,” Desormeaux said of Exaggerator. “They were quick the first part of the race. He was sitting chilly and relaxed. I loved the way it set up, but he didn't finish. I would like to think he'll move forward off of this. He might be maxing out at a mile, too. That's what's going through my mind right now. But we'll stay here for the Santa Anita Derby, try them again and try and prove me wrong.”
Talkin and Singing, a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Better Talk Now (Talkin Man), produced a full-brother to Danzing Candy this year. Her 2-year-old by Candy Ride (Arg) sold to Godolphin for $620,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Florida sale.
Saturday, Santa Anita Park
SAN FELIPE S.-GII, $400,345, SA, 3-12, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.04, ft.
1–#@DANZING CANDY, 120, c, 3, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Talkin and Singing, by Songandaprayer
2nd Dam: Bendita, by Baldski
3rd Dam: Bonne Note (Fr), by Bon Mot (Fr)
'TDN Rising Star' O-Halo Farms, Jim & Diane Bashor; B-Halo
Farms (KY); T-Clifford W. Sise, Jr.; J-Mike E. Smith. $240,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $308,650. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”lanes-end-foaled-and-raised”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Mor Spirit, 124, r, 3, Eskendereya–Im a Dixie Girl, by Dixie
Union. ($85,000 Ylg '14 FTKOCT; $650,000 2yo '15 FTFMAR).
O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Elkstone Group, LLC (PA); T-Bob
Baffert. $80,000.[bullet ad=”allied-bloodstock-shell”][bullet ad=”hillndale-lanni-purchased”]3–Exaggerator, 122, c, 3, Curlin">Curlin–Dawn Raid, by Vindication.
($110,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Big Chief Racing, LLC, Head of
Plains Partners LLC, Rocker O Ranch, LLC et al.; B-Joseph B
Murphy (KY); T-J. Keith Desormeaux. $48,000.
Margins: 2, 3/4, 7 1/4. Odds: 5.50, 1.60, 2.20.
Also Ran: Uncle Lino, Smokey Image, I Will Score. Scratched: Cupid.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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