#sidney's candy

[thehorsegodbuilt]

Sidney's Candy

[thehorsegodbuilt]

Sidney's Candy, requested by eminemproblems. 

[afleetalexandra]

The WinStar stallions are heading out!

Breeder's Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer (top right) has left for his first season of stud in Brazil, Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney's Candy (bottom) is on his way to Argentina, and Breeder's Cup Mile winner Artie Schiller (top left) is headed to Australia

Good luck and safe travels, boys <3 

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Sidney's Candy

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Motley Crew of Nine Makes Up Forego Field

A couple darkhorses are thrown into the fray of champions making up the Forego Stakes (I), the closing bell dirt sprint sure to pique last-minute interest in this year's BC Dirt Mile contention. Several horses are taking a cut back in their usual distance here, even heavy favorite Sidney's Candy, who is trying to decide on the Turf Mile or Dirt Mile come Breeders' Cup time. He won't have it easy out there by the looks of it.

$250,000 Forego Stakes (I) - 3-Year-Olds & Up. 7 furlongs on dirt at Saratoga Race Course. Post Time: Saturday September 3 at 5:12pm on VERSUS.

[Post Position, Horse - Jockey, Trainer - Summary, Opinion in italics]

1) Jackson Bend - Corey Nakatani, Nick Zito - 1 for 1 at Saratoga, Jackson Bend snapped a 12-race losing streak in his last start in the James Marvin at Saratoga, which was also at 7 furlongs where he managed to beat out Escrow Kid and Hamazing Destiny. I hate to say it, but I think his James Marvin win may have been a bit too hyped, though he beat several good horses. I don't expect him to smash this one out of the park.

2) Sidney's Candy - John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher - A six-time graded stakes winner who is mainly a turf specialist. He's cutting back in distance and switching to dirt this time out. The last time he competed at 7 furlongs on dirt was in the San Vicente (II) in February 2010, which he won. Normally I don't like such a huge sudden change, but it's a Todd Pletcher-Johnny V combination and a very, very good horse to boot. He'll stalk Regal Ransom and probably make third.

3) Golddigger's Boy - Stewart Elliott, Ramon Preciado - With a single race under his belt, this Jump Start son is taking a big leap of faith bouncing from a win at 7 furlongs at Parx Racing to here. I think he's the most promising of the underdogs and could possibly pull the wool over our eyes, but I can't help but be discouraged by a lack of real experience here. 

4) Jersey Town - Cornelio Velasquez, Barclay Tagg - Upset winner of last year's Cigar Mile (I), Jersey Town has had a long layoff between that and his second in the 6-furlong Teddy Drone, but that Cigar win boasted the highest Beyer speed figure of this entire field. He's never run at Saratoga, but I entrust my gut with Barclay Tagg on this one. Jersey Town for the win!

5) Hamazing Destiny - Robby Albarado, D. Wayne Lukas - He's been mostly consistent in hitting the board, with a few misses thrown in here and there. A classy sprinter, he has run and done well with the best of them looking for his first win at Saratoga. I think he's been pushed too hard and will probably miss the board at best in this race. He didn't do so hot (6th) in the Vanderbilt (I) and may need an extended rest.

6) Escrow Kid - Oliver Castillo, Carl Doran - A step up in class for Escrow Kid here, whose best start was a second place in the Chesapeake at 6 furlongs. He hit the board again as third in the James Marvin. A deservedly longshot entry, I think he'll be apt to put out a lot of speed early only to be passed by better horses.

7) Aikenite [pictured] - Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher - Not the best sprinter in the country, but he's shown some grit in top company and is a 7-furlong specialist. He lacks his usual rider John Velazquez (on Sidney's Candy), who rode him past top horses to win the Churchill Downs Stakes (II) back in May. He's clearly very skilled in the 7-furlong, though missed by a lot coming in fifth in the James Marvin. However, I think that race can be thrown out. I'm bidding Aikenite will strong-arm this field enough to make second to Jersey Town.

8) Regal Ransom - Ramon Dominguez, Saeed bin Suroor - A hit-or-miss kind of horse, Regal Ransom hogs the front every race he's in, making for good reason that he should cut back in distance down to a much more suitable 7 furlongs. He's 2-for-2 at Saratoga and should set the pace. Now THIS is a much better distance for this horse. If he can maintain good fractions (and with Ramon, I rest easy), I think he can brush up for second or third. Don't count him out for the win, either.

9) Rule by Night - David Cohen, Steve Asmussen - While he hasn't shown much of anything this year (an 8th preceded by a 3rd in ungraded stakes), Rule by Night has won a few times at 6-7 furlongs. This will be the classiest field he's been in, and I think he's overmatched here, especially considering he's coming from the far outside, which he has shown he doesn't particularly like.

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WinStar Farm is attempting to go 1-2 in Saturday's Forego Handicap at Saratoga, pitting Rule [pictured] along with Sidney's Candy in the 7-furlong sprinter event. Both colts are hot off winning their most recent races both at Saratoga.

Edit: Seems as though they changed their minds last minute: Rule will go in the Woodward while Sidney's Candy will stay in the Forego.

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Sidney's Candy [inside white cap] scores his first win for new owner Winstar Farm and becomes a millionaire winning the Fourstardave Handicap (III) at Saratoga.

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WinStar Farm has just announced its purchase of California superstar Sidney's Candy, who will now be pointed toward major East Coast events in the WinStar white-with-silver-stars silks. As an East Coaster, I am shamelessly pleased.