Candy Overload makes first start for Casse in Vigil Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Candy Overload recently changed trainers to Mark Casse following a sale and will debut for his new owners in Sunday’s $150,000 Vigil Stakes over six furlongs on the Tapeta at Woodbine.

Under the guidance of trainer Krista Cole-Simpson, Candy Overload reached full bloom this year at 4. The deep-closing sprinter finished second in both of his outings in the spring, including the restricted Ontario Jockey Club Stakes.

Candy Overload cleared the first allowance condition two back in an authoritative win going seven furlongs. As usual, most recently he took the overland route in the Grade 3 Bold Venture en route to finishing a close second with a career-high 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

Casse said Candy Overload’s good results, despite wide trips, were instrumental in the purchase of the son of popular Ontario sire Reload by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and Leonard Schleifer.

“That’s why we bought him,” Casse explained. He’s been “pretty impressive, if you look at ground covered. He’s trained well since we purchased him, and we’re hoping for a good trip on Sunday.”

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Journeyman Patrick Husbands worked Candy Overload a half-mile in a sizzling 46.60 seconds on Sept. 14 and has the mount Sunday.

The Grade 3 Vigil lured eight others, including the 10-1 Bold Venture winner Secret Reserve, who was notching his third stakes in the 6 1/2-furlong event. He was ridden by Eswan Flores.

“It was a really nice effort,” trainer Mike Mattine said. “He came with a nice run at the end and was really running well down the lane. It was Eswan’s first Woodbine stakes win, so it was extra special for him too.”

Mattine said Secret Reserve seems ready for another peak performance Sunday.

“He came out of that race in great shape and he’s coming into the race well,” Mattine said. “When you look at his record, he’s only been out of the top three just three times, and he had some excuses in those ones.”

Hot stakes trainer Kevin Attard sends out Clayton and Red River Rebel.

Clayton came close to upsetting four-time Vigil winner Pink Lloyd when third in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road last November. The versatile 5-year-old is turning back off a third in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup over 1 1/16 miles. Attard has a 21 percent success rate going route to sprint.

Red River Rebel, a 4-year-old gelding by Reload, is sent out by the owners who sold Candy Overload – Northern Dawn Stables and Denny Andrews.

Red River Rebel won an Ontario-sired allowance in his season opener before finishing fourth in the Ontario Jockey Club and sixth in the Bold Venture. He just missed third to the next-out winner Lucky Curlin most recently in a conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option.

Avie’s Flatter will race with bar shoes again following a third-place finish in the Bold Venture.

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