Racing fans across the country are filling up the bandwagon following Shared
But it’s not only racing enthusiasts that are following the Candy Ride
“I thought he was the best 2-year-old in the country before the Futurity,”
“I saw nothing to change my mind. The only question left is if he can do it
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Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the CashCall Futurity a record
six times, echoed that sentiment.
“He’s really good for a horse coming on this late,” observed Baffert, who
saddled Tap It Rich for an 11th-place finish in the CashCall. “Let’s see if he
can duplicate his form on dirt.”
Trainer Ken McPeek, whose Sheikinator and Rankhasprivileges finished seventh
and eighth, respectively, in the CashCall, knows a few things about young
horses. The trainer shipped Pure Fun to Hollywood Park to capture the Grade 1
Hollywood Starlet in 2012.
“He (Shared Belief) was extremely impressive,” McPeek said. “My two horses
are pretty good and he just showed them his tail. I liked the way he rated and
it didn’t bother him when (Candy Boy) passed him (on the far turn).”
For his part, Hollendorfer knows how many pitfalls there are between now and
the first Saturday in May and refuses to get too excited. He doesn’t like
phrases such as “Derby trail” and “prep races.”
Hollendorfer is keenly aware that Shared Belief must prove himself on dirt.
“He’s never been on it since I’ve had him,” the Hall of Fame conditioner
said. “I don’t know what he did before I got him.
“It’s a long, hard road ahead. We’ll just do the best we can.”
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