Danzing Candy seeks BC Dirt Mile berth in Pat O'Brien Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Danzing Candy has been Mike Smith’s mount this year – when he’s in town.

Smith is traveling to Saratoga to ride in Saturday’s Grade 1 Travers Stakes, leaving the mount on Danzing Candy to Joe Talamo in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar.

:: Save up to 55¢/card on PPs with a 5-pack

Talamo knows Danzing Candy well. On May 5, when Smith rode at Churchill Downs, Talamo was aboard Danzing Candy for a win in an optional claimer at a mile at Santa Anita.

“He impressed me a lot,” Talamo said. “I tried to be a good passenger.”

The $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes will be the second time Talamo has been aboard Danzing Candy. The winner receives a fees-paid berth for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile here on Nov. 3.

KEY CONTENDERS

Danzing Candy, by Twirling Candy
Last 3 Beyers: 107-107-106

◗ Danzing Candy has won 6 of 11 starts and earned $700,930, all for owners Ted Aroney and Jim and Diane Bashor. As a 3-year-old in 2016, Danzing Candy won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes and was 15th behind Nyquist in the Kentucky Derby when trained by Clifford Sise. Danzing Candy joined trainer Bob Baffert’s stable after the Kentucky Derby.

◗ Danzing Candy is unbeaten in his three starts on dirt this year, including the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap at 1 1/16 miles May 28, and the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on July 1.

◗ Smith was aboard for those races, and had Danzing Candy on the lead throughout. Talamo has kept close watch on Danzing Candy’s season.

“He’s a good miler, but seven-eighths is just as good,” Talamo said. “He’s got so much natural speed and he carries it well.”

◗ For the Pat O’Brien, Danzing Candy drew post 8 in a field of 11. Talamo expects Moe Candy to be quick from the rail and for Danzing Candy to be a in a stalking position.

“We should be one, two or three,” he said.

:: Get bonus PPs for Saturday's pick four at Canterbury Park

Moe Candy, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 95-98-89

◗ Moe Candy was a maiden at this time last year. This season, Moe Candy has been second or third in three graded stakes for sprinters in Arkansas and California.

◗ On July 29, Moe Candy was third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs here under jockey Victor Espinoza. Moe Candy raced wide when carried out on the turn by a riderless runner – the 2016 champion sprinter Drefong, no less, who unseated Smith moments after the start.

“He took the worst of it as anyone,” trainer John Sadler said. “He was fanned [wide] and Victor said he would have been closer.”

Giant Expectations, by Frost Giant
Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-89

◗ The Pat O’Brien will be the stakes debut for Giant Expectations, who won consecutive starts at Belmont Park for New York-breds in late May and early June before finishing second in his Del Mar debut at a mile in an optional claimer July 19.