By J.N. Campbell
Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) made it back to the winner's circle for the first time since last summer as she powered home a winner in the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard.
The victress in the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland as a late juvenile, Candied won the Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth in early June. Incredibly consistent afterwards, the filly was the runner-up in the GI CCA Oaks and the GI Alabama Stakes, both at the Spa. The lioness also finished third in the GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland last fall and capped her campaign with a third-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff behind Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna). Going to the sidelines, the Todd Pletcher trainee returned to Keeneland Apr. 18 and was third in the GIII Baird Doubledogdare Stakes.
Well-supported at 90 cents on the dollar here, the favorite was taken in hand and settled midpack heading into the first turn. Content to allow Dazzling Move (Not This Time) and Peignoir (Mendelssohn) to knock heads through the quarter pole, Candied went on the attack down the lane. Despite veering significantly inward from the center of the course with a furlong to go, the chalk flashed her ability and sealed the deal.
“It was nice to see her back in the winner's circle,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “We had a beautiful trip, saved ground around the first turn and [Irad Ortiz] bided his time around the second turn. It looked like when he got her in the clear, she finished well. We felt like everything fit well with this race.
“I think everything is in play [for what would be next],” he said. “We will see how she bounces out of it. The Ogden Phipps [June 8 at Saratoga] might be back a little quick, but we are not going to rule it out yet.”
The winner's dam is responsible for a 2-year-old colt by Solomini and she foaled a colt by Gun Runner Feb. 15. Candied's third dam Burnish (Menifee) was the winner of the GIII Miss Preakness Stakes. Sadly, she passed away this year,
ALLAIRE DUPONT DISTAFF S., $125,000, Pimlico, 5-16, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:50.47, ft.
1–CANDIED, 120, f, 4, Candy Ride (Arg)–Toni Tools (SW, $193,339), by Roaring Fever. ($165,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bobby Flay; B-Buck Pond Farm, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $75,000. Lifetime Record: GISW & MGISP, 11-4-2-4, $1,253,488.
2–Dazzling Move, 124, f, 4, Not This Time–Lady Liam, by Saint Liam. ($85,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $135,000 2yo '23 EASMAY). O-Miller Racing LLC; B-Jesse Korona (ON); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $25,000.
3–Regaled, 120, f, 4, Mohaymen–Ascot Walk, by Daaher. ($9,500 Wlg '21 KEENOV). O-Brittnee Caballero; B-Chris Baccari (KY); T-Samuel G. Davis. $12,500.
Margins: 3, 1HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.90, 1.70, 30.00.
Also Ran: Peignoir, Lemon Muffin, Miss Hebrides. Scratched: Sea Dancer, Sudden Switch.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
🍬CANDIED ($3.80) was just too good in the $125,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff at @PimlicoRC! This is the third stakes win for the four-year-old Candy Ride (@LanesEndFarms) filly. @iradortiz was aboard for trainer @PletcherRacing and owners @EclipseTBP and @bflay. pic.twitter.com/derOUZ8nIh
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 16, 2025
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