Danzing Candy will prep for Kentucky Derby at San Luis Rey Downs

CYPRESS, Calif. – Danzing Candy, fourth in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9, will start in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7 and will be trained through April at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in San Diego County.

Trainer Cliff Sise Jr. said on Thursday that he would prefer to train Danzing Candy at San Luis Rey Downs, which he said has a track with similarities to the surface at Churchill Downs.

“It’s a little sandier track, and it’s different to gallop on than Santa Anita,” he said. “The weather is a little better there, and he can have some R and R.”

Danzing Candy finished 13 1/4 lengths behind Exaggerator in the Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy and sealed track. Owned by Ted Aroney and Diane and Jim Bashor, Danzing Candy, by Twirling Candy, has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $358,650.

Danzing Candy won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles in his stakes debut March 12. Through Friday, Danzing Candy had 60 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, leaving him ranked ninth on the list of prospects. The top 20 earn berths in the Kentucky Derby.

Exaggerator and Mor Spirit, the first two finishers of the Santa Anita Derby, are bound for the Kentucky Derby. Uncle Lino, who finished third, is a candidate for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 21, trainer Gary Sherlock said on Wednesday.