Twirling Candy the one to beat in Big ‘Cap

A comfortable Strub score makes Twirling Candy the one to beat in the Santa Anita Handicap (Benoit Photos) TWIRLING CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) has virtually done it all in a brief seven-race career, winning on all types of surfaces as well as major races around one turn and two. The last unexplored area for him is negotiating the classic 1 1/4-mile distance, not only the length of Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita H. (G1) but also the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), presumably the long-term goal of the John Sadler trainee. The 122-pound highweight in the Big ‘Cap, Twirling Candy figures to be an overwhelming favorite over 10 rivals on the basis of recent wins in the Malibu S. (G1) and Strub S. (G2). While the seven-furlong Malibu proved a challenge as he needed the length of the stretch to get past sprint specialist Smiling Tiger (Hold That Tiger) by a nose, the 1 1/8-mile Strub in contrast was a tour de force. On the muscle throughout as he pulled early with Joel Rosario in the saddle, Twirling Candy finally settled down the backside as Indian Firewater (Indian Charlie) set a fast pace. Assuming command approaching the quarter pole, Twirling Candy opened up on the field and strolled home 4 1/2 lengths while under minimal hand encouragement.

Twirling Candy has won all but one of his starts, the lone loss occurring in
the Goodwood S. (G1) at Hollywood Park in October. He will be reunited Saturday
with Rosario, who has been aboard for five of the colt’s six wins.

A clear second in the Strub was TWEEBSTER (Tapit), one of four horses Hall of
Fame trainer Bob Baffert will saddle for the Big ‘Cap. Tweebster also occupied
the runner-up slot in the San Fernando S. (G2) behind stablemate Indian
Firewater. However, Tweebster, Lone Star Derby (G3) hero and recent allowance winner
GAME ON DUDE (Awesome Again), and San Pasqual S. and San Antonio S. (G2)
runner-up SPURRIER (Dixieland Band), will take a backseat in the wagering to a
relatively new shooter in the Baffert barn.

FIRST DUDE (Stephen Got Even), an impressive physical specimen, has thus far
been unable to translate that asset into wins. Indeed, the dual classic-placed
colt is still eligible for a first-level allowance. However, Donald Dizney’s
homebred bankrolled more than $800,000 last year by not playing the conservative
card. Former trainer Dale Romans ran First Dude in the best races all season,
and the colt took home minor shares in the Preakness S. (G1), Belmont S. (G1), Haskell Invitational
(G1), Travers S. (G1), Blue Grass S. (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G2).

Despite recent unplaced finishes in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and
Sunshine Millions Classic, the expectations for First Dude have not changed with
the change in scenery. That’s especially true after the colt has raised his
connections’ optimism following a trio of local five-furlong works, highlighted by a best-of-104
move on February 18. Martin Garcia, who rode champion Lookin at Lucky to victory
over First Dude twice last year, picks up the mount.

GLADDING (Sarava) is undefeated in two starts for Sadler since arriving from
South Florida. The latter score was a one-length, wire-to-wire triumph in the
February 6 San Antonio over nine furlongs. Third that day was AGGIE ENGINEER (E
Dubai), who had captured the San Pasqual and Native Diver H. (G3) in his prior
two outings. California Cup Classic hero SOUL CANDY (Birdonthewire),
subsequently third in the Native Diver and Sunshine Millions Turf, is another in
the hunt for one of the top prizes.

Hoping to pull a Martial Law-type upset of the Big ‘Cap are PODE IR (Brz)
(Crimson Tide), SETSUKO (Pleasantly Perfect) and QUINDICI MAN (Came Home).

Fluke, shown winning the 2009 Citation, will seek his second top-level win in the Kilroe Mile (Benoit Photos) The grassy $300,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1), one of the supporting features on a blockbuster 11-race program, has been won the past two seasons by the mare Proviso (GB) and multiple champion Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat). Runner-up by a nose to the former was Grade 1 veteran FLUKE (Brz) (Wild Event), who will seek to avenge that defeat against nine others. Fluke, who was sidelined a good chunk of 2010, scored his first win since the 2009 Citation H. (G1) in the February 5 Thunder Road H. (G3) over the Kilroe course and distance. Left in his wake were Proudinsky (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]) and Victor’s Cry (Street Cry [Ire]), thus making the Thunder Road a far better race than its Grade 3 designation would suggest. Cutting back in trip for the Kilroe are Sunshine Millions Turf hero CARACORTADO (Cat Dreams) and JERANIMO (Congaree), who captured the San Gabriel S. (G2) prior to a dull fourth as the favorite in the Sunshine Millions. SQUARE EDDIE (Smart Strike), who broke the 6 1/2-furlong track record on Santa Anita’s dirt before trailing the field of nine in the Donn H. (G1), returns to a surface where he’s one-for-four.

GALLANT SON (Malabar Gold), who landed the Inglewood H. (G3) last
summer, could move forward following a second in a downhill turf
allowance last month. Returning from layoffs in the Kilroe are Oak Tree
Mile (G2) winner LIBERIAN FREIGHTER (Bertrando), the trailer in the
Citation H. (G2) when last seen in November, and ACCLAMATION (Unusual
Heat), speedy winner last summer of the Charles Whittingham H. (G1) and
Jim Murray H. (G2) who’s been sidelined since July.

The best of the others is Hollywood Derby (G1) runner-up SEBASTIAN
FLYTE (GB) (Observatory), third last out in the San Marcos S. (G2) over
1 1/4 miles.