Danzing Candy earns shot at San Felipe

ARCADIA, Calif. – When Danzing Candy drew away from eight rivals to win a first-level optional $80,000 claimer at a mile at Santa Anita on Thursday, trainer Cliff Sise took a moment to admire the performance.

“He’s got the stride of a good horse,” Sise said.

Danzing Candy’s record matches Sise’s belief. Danzing Candy has won 2 of 3 starts and is unbeaten at the current meeting. Owned by Ted Aroney’s Halo Farms and Diane and Jim Bashor, Danzing Candy beat maidens in a seven-furlong race Dec. 26, the opening day of the winter-spring meeting.

Sise reiterated on Friday that Danzing Candy will make his stakes debut in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 12.

Bred by Aroney, Danzing Candy, by Twirling Candy, led throughout Thursday’s race under jockey Mike Smith, a style that surprised Sise. Danzing Candy won by 5 3/4 lengths over French Getaway.

“I didn’t think he’d be on the lead,” Sise said. “Mike said he’ll be better when he comes from off the pace.”

Sise projects further improvement from Danzing Candy when the colt runs longer distances.

“Mike left a lot in the tank,” he said.

Even though the San Felipe is five weeks away, the Grade 2 test at 1 1/16 miles is developing into an intriguing race. The San Felipe will be the graded stakes debut for Smokey Image, the unbeaten California-bred who was the easy winner of the California Cup Derby on Jan. 30.

The March 12 program could be a memorable day for Sise. He hopes to start the stakes winner Prospect Park in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles, the top race of the meeting for older horses. Prospect Park, who races for Marty and Pam Wygod, might have a prep race in the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes at a mile on turf Feb. 13.

“I want to run him in the Santa Anita Handicap,” Sise said. “He’s training unbelievably, but he’ll need the start. I’ve got to get a race into him.”

Prospect Park, 4, has not raced since finishing third in the Del Mar Derby on turf last September. He won the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on turf at Del Mar last August.