Caldwell pair bound for stakes at Belmont Park

Texas Chrome and his 2-year-old stablemate Country Candy have been standout winners at this Lone Star Park meet and are scheduled to see stakes action next month at Belmont Park, according to trainer J.R. Caldwell.

Texas Chrome was a 10 1/2-length winner of a division of the $75,000 Texas Stallion Stakes last Sunday, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 82 in his two-turn debut. Caldwell said Texas Chrome is being considered for one of two races on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 11.

“We’re going to probably take him to New York for either the Woody Stephens or the Easy Goer,” said Caldwell, who trains Texas Chrome for Keene Thoroughbreds.

The Grade 2 Woody Stephens will be run over seven furlongs, and the Easy Goer is 1 1/16 miles. Both races are for 3-year-olds.

“I’m leaning toward the Easy Goer,” said Caldwell.

Texas Chrome won the fourth stakes race of his career in the Texas Stallion Stakes, a one-mile race in which he tracked the pace and separated himself from his rivals in the stretch.

“The horse has been wanting to go long,” Caldwell said. “Watching him work, he’s just galloped out like a monster. I knew distance wouldn’t be a problem.”

Caldwell said later in the year, Texas Chrome could develop into a candidate for races like the Iowa Derby, Super Derby, or Indiana Derby.

Country Candy was a 9 1/2-length winner in her career debut May 6 at Lone Star. She won the 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight in 52.40 seconds and earned a 79 Beyer.

Caldwell said she is being pointed to the $200,000 Astoria, a 5 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies June 9 at Belmont.

“We’re going to try to go early and get a work across the track, let them get settled in,” said Caldwell, who is based at Lone Star.

Keene Thoroughbreds also owns Country Candy, a daughter of the Gone West stallion Intimidator.