Country Candy stands out in Darby's Daughter

Country Candy has quietly contributed to the success of Keene Thoroughbreds this year while being overshadowed by stablemates Texas Chrome, who on Friday was to run in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and Bling On the Music, who defeated males by 13 lengths in the Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park.

But on Saturday night, the stable’s spotlight will belong to Country Candy, who figures to go favored in the $65,000 Darby’s Daughter division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park near San Antonio. She will run in restricted company after defeating open rivals in the Evangeline Downs Princess in August.

The Darby’s Daughter, restricted to offspring of nominated stallions, will share a card with the $65,000 My Dandy division of the Texas Stallion Stakes. Both are for 2-year-olds at six furlongs. The My Dandy division is led by Shaded, who was placed first in the $90,000 colts-and-geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity in July at Lone Star Park, and the undefeated Rouge Arrow, who is 2 for 2 on the main track at Retama.

Darby’s Daughter (Race 6)

KEY CONTENDERS

Country Candy, by Intimidator
Last 3 Beyers: 61-57-58

◗ She’s never run worse than third in her four straight stakes appearances since winning her debut by 9 1/2 lengths in a maiden special weight at Lone Star Park. Her stakes efforts include a third-place finish to eventual Grade 1 winner Pretty City Dancer in the $100,000 Debutante at Churchill Downs.

◗ Trainer J.R. Caldwell has long said sprinting would be the direction for Country Candy, whose biggest win was at six furlongs in the $60,000 Evangeline Downs Princess. She fired the best Beyer Speed Figure of her career, a 78, in her debut, which came over 4 1/2 furlongs in May.

◗ Country Candy last raced Oct. 14 at Remington Park and was second in the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial at 6 1/2 furlongs. The winner, Chanel’s Legacy, has since been pre-entered in the Grade 3, $400,000 Delta Downs Princess on Nov. 19.

◗ David Cabrera will ride Country Candy, who could show the way or get a tracking trip behind the rail-drawn Ostentatious.

Gold Shock, by My Golden Song
Last 3 Beyers: 55-69-65

◗ She also exits the Gaylord, where she was third. One start prior, Gold Shock won an allowance sprint over open company at Remington.

◗ Gold Shock finished second to Bling On the Music in July in the $93,000 fillies’ division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at Lone Star.

◗ Lindey Wade has the mount for Doug Scharbauer and trainer Bret Calhoun.