Grade I winner Sidney's Candy has been purchased by a partnership headed by Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm and turned over to trainer Todd Pletcher. The 4-year-old son of Candy Ride will be pointed for major races on the East Coast and will race in the WinStar colors. Sidney's Candy will stand at WinStar, located near Versailles, Ky., upon his retirement.
“It's an exciting time when you can add a horse like Sidney's Candy to the racing stable, and eventually to the WinStar stallion roster,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar president and racing manager. "This colt has recorded triple-digit Beyers on all three surfaces and set two track records--one of them at two going 5 ½ furlongs. He's one of the truly brilliant horses in racing when you consider what he's accomplished."
Sidney's Candy was a leading contender for last year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after sweeping the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II), the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), and the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I). In the last-named, he defeated champion Lookin At Lucky , who finished third.
As a 2-year-old Sidney's Candy set a Del Mar track record, breaking his maiden at 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.71 over Polytrack. In his first start on turf last summer, he established another Del Mar course record when winning the La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT) at 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.52. Sidney's Candy also won last year’s Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. III) at a mile in 1:33.70.
This year, Sidney’s Candy finished second in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) and in the May 28 American Handicap (gr. IIT).
Sidney's Candy has won or placed in 10 of 13 races and has earned $953,560. He is out of the Storm Cat mare Fair Exchange, and his second dam is grade I winner Exchange.
Bred in Kentucky by the late Sidney Craig and Jenny Craig, Sidney’s Candy raced for Jenny Craig in the name Craig Family Trust. He formerly was trained by John Sadler.