Maker's Candy behaves himself enough to win Mike Lee Stakes
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ELMONT, N.Y. - Maker’s Candy, disqualified from an apparent victory in the Gander Stakes in his previous start against statebred competition, raced a bit greenly again but remained clear of trouble to register an impressive 2 1/2-length victory over Radio Red in Monday’s $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont Park.
Maker’s Candy entered the seven-furlong Mike Lee, for 3-year-old New York-breds, idle since finishing fifth, beaten a dozen lengths by winner Two Phil’s, in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks nine weeks earlier at Turfway Park. A son of Twirling Candy, Maker’s Candy had crossed the finish line first in his two starts against statebred opposition, only to be placed second in the Gander after drifting out and impeding runner-up Neural Network approaching the wire.
Maker’s Candy, ridden for the first time by Jose Ortiz, broke a bit slowly in the Mike Lee before moving swiftly along the inside to within easy striking distance of the pace-setting Looms Boldly approaching the five-eighths pole. Maker’s Candy fell back after drifting a bit wide off the turn, re-engaged for command, and finally over-took Looms Boldly near midstretch. He then repulsed a bid from Radio Red to win going away despite once again drifting through the late stages.
Radio Red raced well placed behind the leaders while near the inside for the opening half-mile, angled out to the middle of the track exiting the turn, loomed boldly outside Maker’s Candy in late stretch, but proved no match in the end.
Looms Boldly weakened gradually through the final furlong to finish third, followed by What’s Up Doc, who steadied sharply several times in behind horses in the opening quarter-mile.
Maker’s Candy is trained by Mike Maker for Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher. He ran seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:23.35 and paid $6.
“He didn’t break that sharp, but I saw the opening on the inside and was able to take it,” said Ortiz. “I had a good trip and moved a little bit early to get good position.”
Ortiz said he was confident Maker’s Candy had enough stamina to win despite making an early move, because he had won going a mile in a maiden race and in his Gander disqualification.
Bouwerie Stakes
Trainer Linda Rice continued her dominance of the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes, winning the event for the sixth time when Downtown Mischief registered a gate-to-wire one-length decision over Miracle in the seven-furlong dash for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies.
With Jose Lezcano aboard, Downtown Mischief rated kindly on the lead, angled off the rail while edging away from the pace-pressing Miracle leaving the turn, then was fully extended to remain clear of that rival.
Miracle, running in statebred company for the first time this season, could not stay with the winner into the stretch, took a second run at her in the final furlong, and was easily best of the others.
Midtown Lights finished third, with Security Code and Downtown Mischief’s uncoupled stablemate Les Bon Temps rounding out the order of finish. The last three were strung out far behind the two leaders.
Downtown Mischief, a homebred daughter of Into Mischief owned by Lady Sheila Stable, won for the fourth time in five starts. Her lone defeat was a second-place finish in the one-mile Memories of Silver Stakes over a sloppy track at Aqueduct four weeks earlier. She completed seven furlongs on Monday in 1:23.98 and returned $4.40 as the favorite.
“We’ve been targeting this race for quite a while,” said Rice. “I think she’s better at six to seven. Time will tell, but right now, my gut feeling is that she’s a six- to seven-furlong horse, so I’ll try to target those 3-year-old filly races and not stretch her out."
Rice said the Grade 3 Victory Ride at 6 1/2 furlongs here on July 8 would be the most likely option for Downtown Mischief’s next start.
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