Ollie's Candy

by Brian DiDonato, Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis LEXINGTON, KY--OXO Equine's Larry Best took home the top two lots Monday during the lone Book 1 session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Early in the day he went to $1.9 million for Indian Miss (Indian Charlie) (hip 32), the dam of champion sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya) and last Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), in foal to Into Mischief and from the Hill 'n' Dale consignment; and towards the end of the session he paid $1.95...

The worktab at Churchill Downs Saturday morning was replete with many of racing's biggest names scheduled to make an upcoming start during next month's Breeders' Cup, including champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), GI Preakness S. heroine Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) and Grade I-winner Tom's d'Etat (Smart Strike). Targeting the Distaff, the 2018 3-year-old champion filly completed six furlongs in 1:12. Working in tandem with GSW and GISP Owendale (Into Mischief, 6f 1:13), the 5-year-old carved out eighth-mile splits of :12, :24.40, :36.20, :47.80 and 1:00, galloping out in front of her stablemate...

GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) faces her elders Sunday at Keeneland in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S., a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. A dominant optional claimer winner at Churchill June 5, the bay romped in the GIII Indiana Oaks July 8 and upset the Oaks at 15-1 last time Sept. 4. Grade I winner Ollie's Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) has been knocking at the door of another top-level victory all season, starting with a third in the GI Beholder Mile in March. She...

Paul and Karen Eggert's versatile Grade I winner Ollie's Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) will be offered for sale during Book 1 of the Keeneland November sale on Nov. 9--two days after she competes in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. "Ollie's Candy's Grade I talent combined with her pedigree and conformation make her a tremendous prospect to offer this November," said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales, which will consign the 5-year-old. "I also love the fact that she is an open book to breed to many of the top stallions...

A competitive field, highlighted by three top-level scorers, are set to face off Sunday in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar, a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) scored back-to-back wins in the Mar. 14 GI Beholder Mile and Apr. 18 GI Apple Blossom H. Favored to repeat in the GII Santa Maria S. back at Santa Anita, she could only manage third behind the re-opposing Fighting Mad (New Year's Day) and 'TDN Rising Star' Hard Not to Love...

With divisional heavies the likes of Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), Serengeti Empress (Alternation) and the comebacking Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) all eye-balling a potential clash in the GII Fleur de Lis S. at Churchill Downs in two weeks' time, Saturday's GI Ogden Phipps S. may lack a 'marquee' name, per se, but it remains a competitive affair that offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland Nov. 7. Ollie's Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of last year's GI Clement L. Hirsch S.,...

GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress (Alternation) tops a field littered with talent--and Grade I winners--in Saturday's GI Apple Blossom S. at Oaklawn. After taking home the lilies in May, the fleet-footed filly completed the exacta in the GI Acorn S. at Belmont June 8 and missed by a half-length after a gritty stretch battle with two-time champion Covfefe (Into Mischief) in the GI Test S. at the Spa Aug. 3. Third in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 2, the dark bay was second to the re-opposing Lady Apple...

Budding distaff division star Hard Not to Love (Hard Spun), a winner of three straight and five of six in her young career, will try two turns for the first time as a probable heavy favorite in Saturday's GI Beholder Mile S. at Santa Anita. Starting two-for-two here last year, the $400,000 Keeneland September grad suffered her only defeat when third in the Angels Flight S. May 4. Returning off the bench to capture a local allowance Oct. 25, the 'TDN Rising Star' closed from last to post an 11-1...

It was back in 1988 that John Sadler began his stake race winning spree at Del Mar, when the mild-mannered speedball Olympic Prospect took the then-$75,000 Bing Crosby H., prompting jockey Alex Solis afterwards to breathlessly exclaim, "I never rode a horse that fast in my life." When given this little factoid at his Del Mar barn one recent morning--a full 31 years after the event--Sadler assumed the look of someone who'd just been told that water wasn't wet. "I wouldn't think so--it's got to be before that," he said...