Candid Image tops Spartan

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Kentucky invader and morning-line choice Candid Image will face a full field of nine challengers in Tuesday's $50,000 Spartan Stakes at Great Lakes Downs.

The Spartan, in its 17th running, is for 3-year-old Michigan-bred colts and geldings and is contested at seven furlongs. It is the sixth race on the 4:50 p.m. Eastern card.

Candid Image, a son of Favorite Trick owned and bred by Redbob Farm, failed to hit the board in optional claiming company at Churchill Downs in his two most recent starts. But before that, he scored twice at Mountaineer by winning at first asking on April 30 and coming back two weeks later with a nearly 10-length allowance win. Mary Doser, who led the local standings for the first month of the Great Lakes meet, will be back to ride Candid Image for her husband, trainer Scott Sowle.

Trainer Gerry Bennett will saddle half of the field. Besides last year's state juvenile champion, All I Can Get, he entered Flyingpalm, Armored Truck, Scarlet Fact, and Navy Pier.

All I Can Get, owned by Michael McQuade, was favored in last month's Lansing Stakes, but was squeezed back in midstretch and finished sixth. Doser's claim of foul against the winner was disallowed that day, but has since been appealed. Federico Mata will be in the irons for the Spartan.

Born to Tango, owned by Millennium Farms and trained by Laura Jackson, was the upset maiden victor of the Lansing Stakes. Ricardo Barrios gets the mount for the Spartan.