Candied takes on older in Lady's Secret

Even in Europe, where 3-year-old stakes horses begin racing against older horses months before their North American counterparts, the sophomore set generally sticks to their own age group until July. The $100,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park is written for fillies and mares aged 3 and older, and the 3-year-old filly Candied is one of seven entered in the 1 1/16-mile dirt race.

European 3-year-olds tackling older foes in July get something like a 10-pound weight break. Candied only gets six pounds, 118 to 124, from her leading rivals, Honor D Lady and Saddle Up Jessie, and none from three others. Before allowances, the Lady’s Secret weights are 124 pounds for older, 121 for 3-year-olds – too small a gap.

Candied, trained by Todd Pletcher, is the only entrant with established Grade 1 credentials, though hers, obviously, came in age-restricted races. Candied won the Grade 1 Alcibiades last October at Keeneland, and after a good closing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, made a somewhat belated 3-year-old debut in the Grade 1 Ashland there. Though she finished fourth, beaten five lengths, Candied ran a strong race considering her layoff and a very wide trip. Candied never changes leads in the stretch run of her races but otherwise has looked a professional filly, one who should come forward Saturday.

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But even with improvement, Candied might not be ready to beat Honor D Lady if that filly bounces back into form. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Honor D Lady made six of her first seven starts on turf and synthetic surfaces before a move to dirt last fall awakened the Honor Code filly. Honor D Lady won the Remington Park Oaks with a career-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure, ran third in the Grade 3 Comely on Nov. 25, and after a three-month break roared into her 4-year-old season with a two-length victory in the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream, earning a new top Beyer of 94.

Then came the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park, where Honor D Lady tracked the pace and faded, beaten more than 18 lengths.

“She never seemed to pick up the bridle. He [Javier Castellano] was scrubbing on her from the beginning, riding her the whole way. It’s a complete throw-out race for me,” Joseph said.

Honor D Lady worked three times at Gulfstream since the April 13 Apple Blossom. Her half-mile breeze in 47.60 May 25 was fastest of 76 at the distance that morning. Joseph said he initially intended to train Honor D Lady into the Molly Pitcher Stakes on July 20 at Monmouth.

“This looks like a spot we could be the favorite and hopefully get her back on track for the Molly Pitcher,” Joseph said.

Honor D Lady should get a favorable stalking trip under leading rider Paco Lopez.

Saddle Up Jessie’s form rose to surprising heights last fall and winter after she was claimed for $20,000 and turned over to trainer Brittany Russell, but the mare might have peaked a couple months ago and comes to the Lady’s Secret after two poor showings.

Trainer Bruce Levine said a decision won’t be made until Friday whether Sunset Louise runs in the Lady’s Secret or the Critical Eye on Sunday at Saratoga.

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