Crushin Candy brings dangerous speed to Jim Coleman Province
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Crushin Candy could be tough to run down Sunday in the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds shares the spotlight with the $50,000 Ross McLeod for 3-year-old fillies.
Crushin Candy will be making his first start for trainer Anita Bolton, as will Andean, who figures to be one of the favorites in the 6 1/2-furlong McLeod.
Crushin Candy was purchased privately by Peter Redekop after he romped by 11 1/4 lengths in a $30,000 maiden-claiming race at Santa Anita on March 18. He didn’t beat much in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint, but he did it impressively. He was just as impressive when he worked a bullet five furlongs at Hastings with exercise rider Drew Levere aboard on April 28.
“He’s a good horse,” said Bolton. “Drew really liked the way he worked. I know this is a step up in class, but I expect he’ll run a good race.”
Crazy Prophet looks like the main threat. Trained by Jim Brown, Crazy Prophet is going for his fourth straight win and could get it if a duel develops up front. He closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a win going 1 1/16 miles in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation and rallied to win his first start this year going six furlongs in an optional $25,000 claiming race April 17 with Pedro Alvarado aboard.
“He came out of his race opening day in great shape,” said Brown. “He should move forward, and the best thing about him is Pedro can place him anywhere he wants.”
Jim Coleman, Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Crushin Candy, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 75-55-65
◗ He is very fast, owns the best Beyer Speed Figure, and if he runs to his sharp work, he is going to be tough to catch.
FORMULATOR FACT: Since 2013, Bolton has a 41 percent strike rate with new shooters, a figure that jumps to 60 percent in stakes races.
Crazy Prophet, by Rosberg
Last 3 Beyers: 67-67-51
◗ He isn’t flashy, but he knows how to win, and the race could set up for him if Dashing Don gets into the mix early.
Ross McLeod, Race 6
KEY CONTENDERS
Andean, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 72-69-64
◗ She is coming off two solid efforts at Golden Gate Fields, and the 72 Beyer she earned for her third-place finish in an optional $40,000 claiming race April 3 is the best in the field. She also could be sitting on a peak performance in the third start of her form cycle.
Snuggles, by Rosberg
Last 3 Beyers: 58-64-60
◗ Trained by Dino Condilenios, she didn’t finish worse than second in four starts as a 2-year-old, all in stakes, and closed out her year with a sharp win going 1 1/16 miles in the $75,000 Fantasy.
Omi, by Rosberg
Last 2 Beyers: 67-53
◗ Condilenios also entered Omi, who easily won a maiden special weight race on April 14.
“Omi has a lot of talent, and it is just a matter of her keeping her mind together,” Condilenios said. “She can get pretty rattled. We sent her home after her win, and I was happy with how settled she was when she came back.”
Princess Katie, by Finality
Last 3 Beyers: 60-70-64
◗ Trained by Rob Gilker, she won an optional $25,000 claiming race as the odds-on favorite April 17 but gave chalk players a scare when she tried to get off the track coming out of the first turn.