Valentine Candy adds to sweet day for Asmussen with Ozark win

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Valentine Candy won his third consecutive stakes race Saturday, when he accelerated from just off the pace for a 2 1/2-length victory over favorite Time for Truth in the $150,000 Ozark at Oaklawn Park. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Vitement.

The Ozark was a new race at the meet. It featured 3-year-olds at six furlongs.

Valentine Candy ($5) broke from the widest post in the field of six and settled just off leader Time for Truth, who set fractions of 22.18 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.96 for the half-mile while pushed along by Vitement. Valentine Candy came three wide into the stretch, overtook the leaders, and charged home with authority while covering the distance on a muddy, sealed track in 1:10.32.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen, who was impressed by the effort from Valentine Candy.

“It was a really attractive race,” Asmussen said. “Under the circumstances, it ended up being the perfect draw for it. Ricardo had him away cleanly, a little pace developed inside of him, he waited patiently and accelerated into the stretch. He won like a good horse.”

Oaklawn opened its card with a sealed track labeled “wet-fast” and for the sixth race it was downgraded to muddy on a rainy afternoon.

Valentine Candy is a son of Justify who races for the partnership of Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm and Whispering Oaks Farm. He has now won 4 of 7 starts for earnings of $351,675.

Valentine Candy opened the Oaklawn meet with a win in the $150,000 Advent on Dec. 8. He came back and won the $150,000 Renaissance on Dec. 31 before targeting the Ozark.

The next race for the division is the $200,000 Bachelor for 3-year-olds at six furlongs on April 27.

Asmussen said the Bachelor will most likely be the target for Valentine Candy.

“We’ll talk it over with his wonderful group of owners,” Asmussen said. “Obviously, we’re very fortunate to have these races to run him in without even having to travel early in his 3-year-old year.”

Valentine Candy was a debut winner at Saratoga last July. The February foal was born on Valentine’s Day and that fact, coupled with the colt being out of a Candy Ride mare is the basis for his name, according to Corinne Heiligbrodt.

The Ozark was one of three wins on the card for Asmussen, who also captured the fourth with Legendary Lore ($11.60) and the fifth with Concept ($8.60).

Racing resumes Sunday.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.