Danzing Candy, Mor Spirit will meet again in Santa Anita Derby

Danzing Candy and Mor Spirit, who finished one-two in the Grade 2 San Felipe on Saturday, are likely to meet again April 9 in the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby, the final local prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

Danzing Candy scored a two-length victory over Mor Spirit while earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 100. It was his third straight win, all at this meet, all with Mike Smith aboard.

His trainer, Cliff Sise Jr., said Danzing Candy came out of the race “real good.” Sise was particularly encouraged by the way Danzing Candy finished off the 1 1/16-mile race, believing it bodes well for the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby.

“He and Baffert’s horse,” Sise said, referring to Bob Baffert-trained Mor Spirit, “galloped out a sixteenth of a mile in front of the rest of the field.”

Danzing Candy has had trouble breaking from the gate in prior starts, but he left alertly on Saturday.

“I think that’s past him,” Sise said.

Danzing Candy carried 120 pounds in the San Felipe, four fewer than Mor Spirit. They will carry equal weights in the Santa Anita Derby.

Exaggerator, who finished third in the race, also is likely for the Santa Anita Derby. His trainer, Keith Desormeaux, immediately after the race said he was concerned Exaggerator “might be maxing out at a mile.”

“We’ll stay here for the Santa Anita Derby, try them again and try to prove me wrong,” he said.