Sweet! Candy Overload wears down rivals to take Big Daddy
A Turfway Park stakes recap by Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media photo of Candy Overload winning the Big Daddy over Shefflin and Night Time)
FLORENCE, Ky. (Sunday, March 10, 2024) – Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber’s Tapeta specialist Candy Overload found his best strides late to defeat seven rivals in a wild stretch battle in Saturday’s third running of the $125,000 Big Daddy Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.
The six-furlong Big Daddy Stakes, named in memory of longtime Turfway Park racing official Rick Leigh, was Candy Overload’s second-lifetime victory at Turfway Park after he won last year’s Forego Stakes. The Mark Casse-trained Ontario-bred was ridden by 2023 Eclipse Award apprentice jockey winner Axel Concepcion while completing a final time of 1:10.79.
Out of the starting gate, there was a skirmish for the early lead between Shefflin at the rail, Antares between horses and Eye Witness on the far outside. While the three speedsters battled up front, Concepcion positioned Candy Overload in seventh, trailing the field by only 3 ¾ lengths. As the sprinters continued on the backside, Antares kicked one-length clear from his rivals to complete an opening quarter-mile in a sharp :22.74. Entering the far turn, Concepcion tipped Candy Overload in the three-path as he began his charge at the leaders. Following a half-mile in a swift :46.17, Antares lead was overtaken by Eye Witness who poked his head in front while in the two-path and Night Time who was rallying in the three-path. Inside the eighth-pole, five horses were stacked abreast with Our Shot spurting through at the rail, the re-rallying Antares just off the fence, 8-5 favorite Shefflin making a late move in the three-path, Night Time and Candy Overload. In deep stretch, Candy Overload was able to find his best stride to win by ¾ of a length.
Shefflin was able to get his nose down at the wire in front of his stablemate Night Time for the runner-up spot. They were followed in order by Our Shot, Antares, Here Mi Song, Eye Witness and Striker.
Candy Overload returned prices of $28.40, $8.08 and $3.88 as the second-longest price in the race ahead of 29-1 Striker. Shefflin returned $3.68 and $2.60 with Night Time paying $3.34 as the 4-1 third choice.
Candy Overload has now won six of his 22-career starts and banked purse earnings of $498,522. The 6-year-old son of Reload was bred by Northern Dawn Stables and Denny Andrews.
Racing will resume Wednesday at Turfway Park for an eight-race card beginning at 5:55 p.m. For more information and to purchase dining reservations, visit www.turfway.com.
SPEEDY B G WARRIOR TAKES ON GRADE III-WINNING CALIFORNIA INVADER HONEY PANTS IN $125,000 QUEEN STAKES – Keith Grass’ fleet-footed Wishing Well Stakes winner B G Warrior is set for her return to Turfway Park and will face a full field of fillies and mares, including Grade III winner Honey Pants, entered in Saturday’s 28th running of the $125,000 Queen Stakes.
Run at six furlongs, the Queen Stakes will go as the sixth race on the eight-race card with a post time of 8:25 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 5:55 p.m.
Prior to the races Saturday, fans are invited to attend the draw for the March 23, $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III) which will be held in the Event Center starting at 4 p.m. More information will be available in the coming days.
In the Queen Stakes, the speedy B G Warrior will be competing for the 22nd time in her career. Her notable resume sports four prior victories including a 5 ¾-length romp in the Jan. 27 Wishing Well Stakes at Turfway Park. Trained locally by Hugo Andrade, the 4-year-old daughter of Run Away and Hide will be ridden by Albin Jiminez from post No. 6.
Chief among her rivals in the Queen is Bakster Farm and Gerald Isbister’s Las Cienegas Stakes (GIII) winner Honey Pants. Trained by Jonathan Thomas, Honey Pants won her first stakes event in the Las Cienegas after making a late rally under jockey Frankie Dettori while holding off rival Elm Drive by a head. The four-time winning daughter of Cairo Prince will be piloted in the Queen by Turfway’s leading rider Luan Machado from post 12.
Another horse that could attempt to pressure B G Warrior on the lead is the ultra-consistent Princess Adaleigh, who breaks two positions to the outside of B G Warrior under Abel Cedillo. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Princess Adaleigh has been competing in California for her entire nine prior starts. The daughter of Goldencents shipped to Turfway one week ago to begin her preparation for the Queen Stakes, which would be her first start since late August when she finished third to Eda and Kirstenbosch in the Rancho Bernando Handicap (GIII).
Here is the complete field in post-position order for the Queen Stakes (with jockey and trainer) Breeze Easy(GB) (Colby Hernandez, Wayne Catalano); Souper Munnings (Tyler Connor, Ian Wilkes); Awesome Treat (Abel Lezcano, Justin Wojczynski); Linguistic (Fernando De La Cruz, Eric Foster); Swall (Joe Talamo, D’Amato); B G Warrior (Jiminez, Andrade); Victorious (Axel Concepcion, Michael McCarthy); Princess Adaleigh (Cedillo, D’Amato); Ravella (Gerardo Corrales, Bill Morey); Baby No Worries (Walter Rodriguez, Tim Girten); Current Climate (Alex Achard, Eric Foster) and Honey Pants (Machado, Thomas). Also-Eligible Hit the Woah needs one defection to make the field and would break to the far outside under jockey Martin Garcia for trainer Whit Beckman.
For more information about racing and gaming from Turfway Park, visit www.turfway.com.
