Candid Glen set to shed bridesmaid role

Louisiana invaders Candid Glen, Chauffe Au Rouge, and Maysville Slew will take on Retama Park favorite Kris Havingfunnow on Saturday night in the $50,000 Retama Turf Cup. The 1 1/16-mile race has drawn a full field of 12.

Candid Glen, highweighted at 118 pounds, seems to be working his way into the winner's circle after a series of close finishes. In his last two starts, he has been beaten less than a length, finishing a nose behind Maysville Slew in the $100,000 Independence Breeders' Cup at Louisiana Downs on July 4, and a half-length behind Chauffe Au Rouge in an allowance July 26.

Louisiana Downs-based jockey E.J. Perrodin travels to San Antonio for the mount on Candid Glen for owner Glen Warren and trainer Andrew Leggio.

Gerard Melancon also makes the trip south to ride Chauffe Au Rouge. He was aboard the horse for the first time last out and won an allowance at Louisiana Downs in an effort that impressed Cole Norman, who trains Chauffe Au Rouge.

"I thought he put an excellent ride on him," Norman said. "He cut the corner and saved the ground and held for the win. He got it done.

"The race was [Chauffe Au Rouge's] best since he's been back. He beat some good horses."

Others of note in the Retama Turf Cup are Maysville Slew, who has been working sharply for his first start since winning the Independence, and Kris Havingfunnow, a multiple stakes winner on the Retama Park turf for trainer Jerenesto Torrez.