Candy Boy a candidate for Belmont

ARCADIA, Calif. – Candy Boy is a candidate for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 7 following a troubled trip in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs last Saturday.

Candy Boy finished 13th in the Kentucky Derby after jockey Gary Stevens was forced to check the colt while racing in traffic on the first turn. After that incident, Candy Boy was last in the 19-horse field on the backstretch. He made some progress in the final half-mile but was beaten 12 lengths by winner California Chrome.

Sadler said Candy Boy’s participation in the Belmont over 1 1/2 miles depends on how he trains in the next month.

“We’re hoping that we can go to Belmont,” Sadler said.

Candy Boy won the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in February and was third to California Chrome in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Candy Boy has won 2 of 8 starts and $425,600 for owners and breeders Lee and Susan Searing.

Sadler could have two 3-year-olds to send to New York for the June 7 program. Kobe’s Back, owned by the Searings, starts in Saturday’s $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes over seven furlongs at Santa Anita. After that, Sadler said he might send Kobe’s Back to Belmont Park for the $500,000 Woody Stephens, also over seven furlongs.

Kobe’s Back won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Feb. 16 but was seventh in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 14, a loss that ended any chance for a start in a Triple Crown race.

In his most recent race, Kobe’s Back was a fast-closing third in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes over seven furlongs at Aqueduct on April 5 after a poor start.