Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. I) winner Candy Boy, moving closer to the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), worked five furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita Park the morning of March 14 in :59 2/5.
With Gary Stevens aboard, Candy Boy worked in company with with stablemate Prospector Alley, who was clocked in 1:00 2/5. Candy Boy's time was the second fastest of 57 at the distance on the morning.
"He went really well," trainer John Sadler said of Candy Boy looking ahead to the April 5 Santa Anita Derby. "He looked very sharp. He'll have two more works before the race."
Runner-up to 2-year-old champion Shared Belief in last December's CashCall Futurity (gr. I), the stalking Candy Boy won his only start this year in the 1 1/16-mile Lewis by half a length. He has posted three works since at Santa Anita.
Owned by his breeders, Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable, the bay colt by Candy Ride out of the In Excess mare She's An Eleven has two wins and two seconds from six lifetime starts with earnings of $305,600.
In other Santa Anita developments, trainer Bob Baffert said he is considering both the Santa Anita Derby and the April 12 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) for Bayern , 15-length allowance victor who galloped on the main track Friday. Bayern was scratched from a scheduled start in the March 8 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) two days before the race with a bruised foot.
Trainer Peter Eurton said El Camino Real Derby runner-up Dance With Fate is ticketed for the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland April 12.
Garen, a son of Street Cry (IRE) who broke his maiden by 2 1/4 lengths going 1 1/16 miles Feb. 17 for trainer Peter Miller, is headed for the $800,000 Sunland Derby (gr. III) March 23.
Candy Boy
Benoit Photo