Danzing Candy makes debut for Baffert in Affirmed
ARCADIA, Calif. – The Kentucky Derby ended for Danzing Candy on the final turn, when the colt faded from the lead, eventually finishing 15th of 20.
Days after the famous race on May 7, Danzing Candy was transferred from trainer Clifford Sise to Bob Baffert by owners Jim and Dianne Bashor and Ted Aroney. Baffert knew what he was getting. He had watched Danzing Candy in the leading races for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita through the winter and early spring.
“His early races were very impressive,” Baffert said.
On Saturday, Danzing Candy will have his first start for Baffert in the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds. Danzing Candy will be favored to win his second stakes of the year in the Grade 3 Affirmed at 1 1/16 miles.
The key to a victory is to ration Danzing Candy’s speed. He will set the pace against four rivals, none of whom has won or placed in a stakes. Dalmore, the winner of an optional claimer May 29, is the biggest threat to Danzing Candy. The other runners – Beaumarchais, Curlin Rules, and Prince of Arabia – will be longer prices.
Affirmed Stakes, Race 5
KEY CONTENDERS
Danzing Candy, by Twirling Candy
Last 3 Beyers: 73-83-100
◗ Danzing Candy won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 12, his last start at 1 1/16 miles. He led throughout and won by two lengths over the Baffert-trained Mor Spirit. Exaggerator was third. Exaggerator later won the Santa Anita Derby, finished second in the Kentucky Derby, and won the Preakness Stakes.
◗ Danzing Candy set the pace in the Santa Anita Derby before finishing fourth.
“We’ve been working on him to get him to relax a little bit,” Baffert said.
◗ Danzing Candy has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $358,650. Leading rider Rafael Bejarano will ride Danzing Candy for the first time, replacing Mike Smith.
Dalmore, by Colonel John
Last 3 Beyers: 91-84-22
◗ Dalmore’s recent win in an optional claimer reversed a two-race losing streak. He was last of eight in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 9 and fifth in the California Chrome Stakes at Los Alamitos on April 30.
Prior to both races, Dalmore was unsettled by the shipping, trainer Keith Desormeaux said.
“When he shipped to the Wood, he laid down for two days because of the stress of the flight,” Desormeaux said. “When he shipped to Los Al, my guys said he was fidgety all day. This race is in our backyard.”
◗ Dalmore beat Prince of Arabia and Curlin Rules in the optional claimer May 29. Dalmore stalked the pace to the stretch before pulling away to win by 1 1/2 lengths. He figures to be a threat to Danzing Candy in the final quarter-mile of the Affirmed.
Prince of Arabia, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 80-88-78
◗ Beat maidens at Los Alamitos on April 22 in his seventh career start. After finishing second to Dalmore, Prince of Arabia was ninth of 11 in the Rainbow Stakes on turf June 18 after a slow start and a wide trip, losing by 4 1/4 lengths to the longshot Mr. Roary.