The Craig Family Trust’s homebred TWIRLING CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) tuned up
The dark bay four-year-old rated under a snug hold in second as Indian
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“Mike (Smith) tried to send his horse (Indian Firewater) to the lead and get a
clean trip early. It was tough to get my horse to relax for a little bit,”
Rosario said. “Going
to the half-mile pole he relaxed really nice for me, which is what I wanted, and
I just followed the horse on the lead. He’s a good horse. I followed the horse
on the lead, and my horse just did unbelievable. My horse just took me there,
and I let him do what he wants to do”
“He’s such a nice horse,” Sadler exclaimed. “My job is just to be a good
steward and take good care of him, because he’s a natural runner. There was no
concern (going from seven furlongs to a mile and an eighth). My only concern is
that I do a good job, because I really feel this is the best horse in the
country.”
Favored at 1-2 among seven rivals, he paid $3, $2.40 and $2.10 to
his many backers. Tweebster (Tapit) stalked the pace in third and tried to offer
a challenge in upper stretch, but he was a never a serious threat while settling
for second. It was 2 1/2 lengths back to Make Music for Me (Bernstein), who
edged Indian Firewater by a nose for third, and Oilisblackgold (Tapit), Honour
the Deputy (Honour and Glory) and Do It All (Distorted Humor) rounded out the
order of finish. Paris Vegas (Maria’s Mon) was withdrawn.
Twirling Candy is now six for seven in his career. He captured his career bow
in November 2009 on Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track, but was sidelined by sore
shins for the next six months. Twirling Candy reappeared at the Inglewood,
California, track in a May 29 allowance/optional claiming sprint and dusted his
foes by 7 3/4 lengths. Sadler then stretched him out to two turns and switched
him to the grass for the July 21 Oceanside S. on Del Mar’s opening day, and the
big colt rallied to a sharp 2 1/4-length decision. Twirling Candy was even more
dominant in the September 5 Del Mar Derby (G2), where he ducked out badly,
rolled by 3 1/4 lengths, and survived an inquiry to keep the victory.
He suffered his only career setback in his 2010 finale, the October 2
Goodwood S. (G1), finishing fourth as the in his first try versus older horses
after weakening uncharacteristically in the stretch. That setback ruled him out
of a projected tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and Twirling Candy
returned from a near three-month freshening in the opening-day Malibu, edging
multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter Smiling Tiger (Hold That Tiger) in a superb
showing. With Saturday’s $120,000 payday, Twirling Candy has now earned
$579,900.
“He’s a really good horse, so I feel a strong sense of stewardship, that I do
the right things with him and pick the races carefully,” Sadler said. “I just
don’t want to make any mistakes because he’s that good. I beat up myself a few
times for the time he got beat, maybe he wasn’t quite his best that day. But I
just think if I do the right moves, he’s just a really top horse — he looked
really comfortable today. He looked really non-stressed in the winner’s circle
and that’s really key for him.”
Twirling Candy is the likely favorite for the 1 1/4-mile Big ‘Cap.
The Kentucky-bred is the first registered foal from the Chester House mare
House of Danzing, who has also produced two full siblings to the winner — an
unraced juvenile filly named Dulcito and a yearling colt named Treasure Ride —
as well as a weanling colt by Tribal Rule. Twirling Candy comes from the family
of Grade 3 victor and multiple Grade 1-placed Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride
[Arg]). Further back in the female line, one finds 1978 Triple Crown legend
Affirmed (Exclusive Native).