Danzing Candy Waltzes into Kentucky Derby Picture

Danzing Candy Waltzes into Kentucky Derby Picture: The San Felipe shaped up as a race to really reveal who was the real deal as California based Kentucky Derby contenders. Going in, many expected horses such as Smokey Image, Mor Spirit, and Exaggerator to show their true colors, and when the race ended, only one horse exited with a win. Mor Spirit finished a closing third after one horse put the rest of the field to sleep while loose on the lead. Exaggerator was unable to maintain momentum and catch this uncontested leader. Finally, former undefeated stakes winner Smokey Image quit and finished fifth of six. Who was this horse to defeat such highly regarded horses? Danzing Candy, that’s who.

Danzing Candy went into the San Felipe without a stakes start, but on a two-race win streak. The son of Twirling Candy took the San Felipe through splits of 22.96, 46.11, 1:11.04, 1:36.38, and 1:43.04. The colt, coming in, has won two straight by a combined 9 lengths, and he won the San Felipe with ease by two lengths. The colt is likely headed to the Santa Anita Derby before the Kentucky Derby. With the San Felipe Win, the colt scored 50 points toward a potential start in Louisville.

The connections are made up of not only regular rider Mike Smith, but also trainer Clifford Sise Jr., trainer of some nice horses, including Idiot Proof, who finished 2nd in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Owners Halo Farms and Jim and Diane Bashore own the colt and is their first graded stakes winner.

Danzing Candy is a son of Twirling Candy, a son of Candy Ride who stands at Lane’s End. The stallion entered stud in 2012, which means his first crop are three-year-olds of 2016. As a racehorse, Twirling Candy won four graded stakes and five stakes wins all together. He was best at nine furlongs, winning the Malibu Stakes, where he set a new record, Del Mar Derby, Strub Stakes, and Californian Stakes. During his career, he defeated horses like Game On Dude, Stately Victor, and Setsuko. He did finish 2nd in the TVG Pacific Classic and 3rd in the Hollywood Gold Cup, both going ten furlongs. As a stallion, Twirling Candy is still getting started, but Danzing Candy is his best offspring so far. He has two stakes winners outside of Danzing Candy, named Iron Rob and Twirling Cinnamon.

Danzing Candy is out of a mare named Talkin and Singing. The mare never won but ran on turf and all weather tracks, managing a few second and third place finishes.

Talkin and Singing may never have won, but her sire Songandaprayer, did. The stallion stands in Louisiana for a fee of $4,500. He was successful at distances up to 8.5 furlongs, winning the Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles. He did finish second in the nine furlong Blue grass Stakes. However, he did not do well in the 2001 Kentucky Derby, finishing 13th. He made one start after the Kentucky Derby, finished 3rd in the Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup Stakes, finished 3rd to City Zip and Sea of Green.

Danzing Candy is bred to be successful between eight and nine furlongs, but is likely going to experience difficulty passed that range. He is fast and is able to put himself into a comfortable cruising speed. However, he will likely have trouble as horses who are more equip to handle longer distances of ten and twelve furlongs.

San Felipe Stakes 2016 Featuring Danzing Candy: