Ollie's Candy on schedule for Beholder Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ollie’s Candy, the 2019 Grade 1 winner who was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November, is nearing a return to racing in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 14 at Santa Anita.

Monday, Ollie’s Candy worked six furlongs in a quick 1:12.40, the fastest of nine recorded works at the distance.

“We’re a week ahead of schedule,” trainer John Sadler said. “We didn’t get any rain in February. She looks good.”

Owned by Paul and Karen Eggert, Ollie’s Candy has won 4 of 10 starts and earned $576,151. Last August, Ollie’s Candy won the most prestigious race of her career in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar.

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In the BC Distaff here Nov. 2, Ollie’s Candy finished fourth, six lengths behind upset winner Blue Prize.

The $400,000 Beholder Mile is the leading race for fillies and mares on dirt at the winter-spring meeting. The field is expected to include Hard Not to Love, winner of the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs on Feb. 15.

Sadler’s stable will have runners in several important stakes in early March. Gift Box, winner of the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 28, is a leading contender for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on March 7. The $600,000 Big Cap is the leading race of the winter-spring meeting for older horses.

The same day, the stakes winner Flagstaff is scheduled to run in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs and Frontier Market is booked to start in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf.