Super Fuse sought-after commodity after fast win

MIAMI - Trainer Richard Ciardullo's phone has been ringing off the hook ever since Super Fuse sensationally won his career debut here last Saturday. A 2-year-old gelding, Super Fuse earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure, second highest for a juvenile this year behind the 102 posted by Zavata winning the Tremont Stakes.

Ciardullo said he and owner C & T Stable have gotten offers to buy Super Fuse, but as of Friday they hadn't sold.

Ciardullo purchased Super Fuse, a son of Lite the Fuse, for $38,000 out of the Adena Springs dispersal sale in Ocala in April.

"I had him gelded right after I bought the horse, and he really seemed to grow and fill out in behind pretty quickly after that," said Ciardullo. "I only had about six or seven works into him prior to his first start, and while he always beat everything I worked him against, he never put forth the kind of energy in the morning he did in his race the other day."

Super Fuse is a Kentucky-bred and thus not eligible to Calder's Florida Stallion Series. Ciradullo said if he is not sold, Super Fuse will make his next start in the $100,000 NATC Futurity at Delaware Park on Aug. 31.

Another potential star

Trainer Katy Francy also figures to be taking some phone calls from potential buyers after a 3-year-old she trains, Bernard's Candy, set a 5 1/2-furlong track record of 1:04.39 winning Friday's opener.

Bernard's Candy, an Ohio-bred son of Candy Stripes, finished second in his career debut behind Friendly Frolic, who came back nine days later and finished third in the Grade 3 Carry Back Stakes. On Friday, Bernard's Candy went right to the lead under jockey Cornelio Velasquez, shook off an early challenge from Mach One, and easily won in a strong maiden special weight field.

"We had some little setbacks with him as a 2-year-old and again this season, although we knew all along he had a lot of talent," said Francy.

Bernard's Candy is owned by his breeder, Bruce Tallisman.

"Right now we're thinking about shooting for the Calder Derby on Oct 12," said Francy. "That gives us a couple of months to stretch him out. I'd like to do it gradually and look for a race at seven furlongs next time before sending him around two turns."