Fair Grounds: Candy My Boy's target unclear

Candy My Boy could not win a $15,000 maiden claimer last October at Indiana Grand, but he ran a fairly remarkable race to finish a close fourth Saturday in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds. Breaking from the outside post in a field of 11, Candy My Boy had to be hustled hard to get to his preferred spot on the lead, which meant going a first quarter-mile in 22.95 seconds, a pace basically unheard of in Fair Grounds route races. The main track did carry speed Saturday, and Candy My Boy, getting over to the fence, was on the best part of the surface, but he still stayed on mightily to lose by just 2 1/4 lengths to victorious Gun Runner.

“We had to get him out there and get position,” said Roger Brueggemann, who trains Candy My Boy for Frank Mancari. “Once we got him in gear, we couldn’t slow him down. If we could have got him slowed down, we could have been a lot closer.”

Candy My Boy came out of his race well enough, but he’s not certain to come back March 26 in the Louisiana Derby.

“We really don’t know yet,” Brueggemann said. “I’d like to find a mile race for him.”

◗ Untapable had the strongest work of her 2016 comeback on Wednesday, going five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Wednesday morning. Forever Unbridled, who could well meet Untapable in the Apple Blossom this spring, zipped a half-mile in 48 seconds Wednesday.

◗ Friday’s nine-race program has a first post at 5 p.m. Central.

- additional reporting Bob Fortus