DEL MAR, Calif. - Twirling Candy survived his own immaturity and a stewards’ inquiry when he rolled to a 3 1/4-length victory on Sunday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Derby, which ran his record to a perfect 4 for 4.
Twirling Candy ($2.40), the overwhelming favorite, proved much best at the end of an eventful 1 1/8 miles on turf, which saw him bolt five furlongs from the wire into the path of Summer Movie, who was second at the time but wound up last in the field of six 3-year-olds.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The fall racing season is about to get a lot more interesting for undefeated Twirling Candy, the likely odds-on favorite Sunday in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby.
Six entered the 1 1/8-mile grass race for 3-year-olds, in which lone front-runner Twirling Candy and improving stretch-runner Kid Edward figure one-two in the cinch exacta of summer.
DEL MAR, Calif. - John Sadler was the leading trainer at Del Mar the past two seasons, and though he is a longshot to catch Doug O’Neill before the meet ends next Wednesday, Sadler has a chance to go out on a very high note with big chances in important stakes this weekend, most notably the unbeaten Twirling Candy in the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Sunday.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Twirling Candy stretched his unbeaten streak to three with a victory in his stakes debut in the $112,500 Oceanside Stakes on Wednesday's opening day at Del Mar. The winning margin was 2 1/4 lengths over Macias, and it did not seem that close.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, Twirling Candy was easily moving away from nine rivals at the end of the one-mile Oceanside, the colt's first start around two turns and first race on turf.
"He ran good for the first time on turf," Rosario said. "I thought it was perfect. I made sure he was clear."
DEL MAR, Calif. – The breezy Del Mar atmosphere always feels fresh when California racing goes south for summer.
“We’re spoiled by the whole Del Mar experience,” trainer John Sadler admitted. “The restaurants, the beach, the weather, the environment – it’s just a fun meet that everybody looks forward to.”
It is easy for him to say. After all, Sadler ran away with the Del Mar training title the last two summers, and when the 2010 meet begins Wednesday with the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds, Sadler will unveil a potential freak.