Twirling Candy makes it look easy in Oceanside

DEL MAR, Calif. - Twirling Candy stretched his unbeaten streak to three with a victory in his stakes debut in the $112,500 Oceanside Stakes on Wednesday's opening day at Del Mar. The winning margin was 2 1/4 lengths over Macias, and it did not seem that close.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Twirling Candy was easily moving away from nine rivals at the end of the one-mile Oceanside, the colt's first start around two turns and first race on turf.

"He ran good for the first time on turf," Rosario said. "I thought it was perfect. I made sure he was clear."

Twirling Candy ($3.60) was always near the pace of 23.53 and 47.76 seconds set by Macias. Rosario kept Twirling Candy in third, racing wide, on the backstretch, and launched a three-wide rally on the turn. Twirling Candy trailed Macias by a half-length with a furlong remaining and finished in 1:34.69.

Macias, the winner of two minor stakes at Santa Anita last winter, finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 13-1 Gallant Gent.

Twirling Candy is owned by breeder Jenny Craig and trained by John Sadler. By Sidney's Candy, Twirling Candy beat maidens at Hollywood Park last November, but emerged from that race with sore shins. He won his comeback in an optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs by 7 3-4 lengths on May 29. Twirling Candy has earned $114,900.

Sadler said the $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 5 is likely to be Twirling Candy's next start.