Da Candy Man exacts revenge

Da Candy Man may not have been able to handle Manolito when they met here last spring, but he got his revenge in last Saturday's $125,000 Pepsi Cola Handicap.

"The race went very well," said rider Casey Lambert. "I was fortunate to pick up the mount. I had to run up against Da Candy Man last time."

Trained by Dan Dennison, Da Candy Man finished second to Manolito in last April's Copper Top Futurity but didn't race again until Dec. 10. He has come back a brand new horse.

Da Candy Man won his maiden easily in his return race, then won a New Mexico-bred allowance race here Jan. 1 before winning the Pepsi. He is likely to tackle open foes next, though his long-term goal may be the $100,000 New Mexico Breeder's Derby, for New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds at a mile, here April 1. Da Candy Man has yet to race beyond six furlongs.

Milestone is news to Tohill

Ken Tohill reportedly expressed some surprise at the hoopla surrounding his 2,000th win here last Tuesday. Tohill told track officials he'd already passed that mark in November at Zia Park.

Tohill was right, but that mark counted mounts for all breeds. Tohill's win aboard Dee Dee's Diner last Tuesday was his 2,000th Thoroughbred riding victory.

Tohill began riding professionally in 1979. He has amassed earnings of $23,070,123 from 17,604 starters.