Secret Spice, Ollie's Candy rematched in Zenyatta

ARCADIA, Calif. – Secret Spice has returned home to Santa Anita, where she has a score to settle with Ollie’s Candy.

The top two older females in California meet Sunday in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes, a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2019: See DRF’s top contenders

Six fillies and mares entered the 1 1/16-mile Zenyatta, including former star Paradise Woods, veteran closer La Force, and entry-level allowance winners Mongolian Humor and Kaydetre.

Betting will center on Ollie’s Candy and Santa Anita specialist Secret Spice. They finished a nose apart in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch two months ago at Del Mar, where Ollie’s Candy ran the race of her career to upset Secret Spice.

Afterward, Ollie’s Candy’s owner Paul Eggert jokingly asked trainer John Sadler, “Can’t we move the Breeders’ Cup down here?”

“When she went to Del Mar, she had a real affinity for that dirt down there,” Sadler said, acknowledging her early-summer works at Santa Anita were less impressive.

“She didn’t wow me on this [Santa Anita] dirt before,” Sadler said. “I’m hoping that it was more her getting ready. But now she seems like she’s better on it, so maybe it’s just a continuation . . . She’s on the right trajectory.”

Ollie’s Candy definitely improved since returning in spring from a nine-month layoff. The Hirsch was her third start for Sadler.

The challenge on Sunday at Santa Anita is to reproduce Del Mar form against a rival repeatedly proven over the local surface.

Secret Spice dazzled in her last two starts on a fast track at Santa Anita – a 106-Beyer allowance romp last fall, and a decisive victory in the Grade 1 Beholder Stakes this spring that earned a 100 Beyer.

“She’s fast, and she’s consistently fast,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “She’s a legit horse. She’s training lights-out, she’s very relaxed in the morning. She’s in for a big effort.”

Secret Spice is owned by Little Red Feather Racing and celebrity chef Bobby Flay, who purchased a 50 percent share in Secret Spice prior to her most recent start.

Flavien Prat rides Secret Spice, the 8-5 favorite on track linemaker Jon White’s early line. Ollie’s Candy opens at 9-5, while Paradise Woods is third choice at 5-2.

The pace scenario of the Zenyatta is difficult to project. Secret Spice must produce speed from the rail to establish position, Paradise Woods runs best forwardly placed, and Kaydetre also has speed. But it was Ollie’s Candy whose surprising gas last out enabled her to lead the Hirsch virtually gate to wire.

“That was a rider’s choice,” Sadler said, referring to Kent Desoremaux. “It totally surprised us. We weren’t expecting that. He is pretty instinctual, and just felt like she broke running. She can run a lot of different styles.”

The $300,000 Zenyatta is race 5 on an eight-race Sunday card, and the second-to-last major prep for BC Distaff. The favorite for the Distaff Midnight Bisou was scheduled to start favored Saturday in the Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont Park. Elate, also a possible Distaff contender, runs Oct. 6 in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland.

KEY CONTENDERS

Secret Spice, by Discreet Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 94-95-100

◗ She may have been caught by surprise at Del Mar when Ollie’s Candy showed speed and broke away from the field on the far turn. Secret Spice rallied, poked her head in front at the eighth pole, but missed.

◗ Does Secret Spice have distance limitations? In both starts at 1 1/16 miles, she led at the eighth pole before finishing second. She is 3 for 6 at Santa Anita.

Ollie’s Candy, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 94-92-82

◗ She began her career with trainer Bill Morey, and was transferred to Sadler this spring. Ollie’s Candy has four wins and three seconds from eight starts. She is 2 for 2 on dirt.

Paradise Woods, by Union Rags
Last 3 Beyers: 82-84-100

◗ Her dominating Grade 2 victory three starts back at Santa Anita puts her in the hunt. She broke slowly finishing second as the odds-on favorite two back, and did not produce her customary speed last time, finishing a flat fourth in the Hirsch.

“She got dirt in her face. That was a big hindrance for her,” trainer John Shirreffs said.

◗ Paradise Woods, whose four wins all came at Santa Anita, will be ridden by Abel Cedillo.