Undefeated Twirling Candy, who scored easily in his stakes and turf debut last out, leads a field of six in the $300,000 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) Sept. 5 in Southern California.
The nine-furlong turf race also drew the second- and fourth-place finishers in the Aug. 14 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT), Kid Edward and Summer Movie. Post time is slated for 4 p.m. PDT.
Craig Family Trust’s homebred Twirling Candy stalked the pace and took over in the stretch en route to his 2 1/4-length victory in the one-mile Oceanside Stakes July 29 at Del Mar. It was his first race on grass after two wins on the Hollywood Park Cushion Track to begin his career. The son of Candy Ride broke his maiden last November and scored by nearly eight in his season debut on May 29.
Joel Rosario was assigned to ride Twirling Candy for John Sadler. They will break from post six.
Gould Family Trust’s Kid Edward had the misfortune of running into Sidney’s Candy in the La Jolla. The Singspiel colt closed strongly after being way back in the early part of the race, but still fell more than five lengths short of the dazzling winner.
Trained by James Cassidy, Kid Edward has made all four of his starts on turf with a pair of wins to show for them. He broke his maiden in December at Santa Anita Park and won his seasonal debut in a two-turn optional claimer July 23 at Del Mar. David Flores will have the ride.
George Krikorian’s Summer Movie won his 3-year-old debut in an optional claimer April 24 at Hollywood Park, but has lost four straight since then. His best effort came when third in the Swaps (gr. II) July 17. The son of Holy Bull is 2-0-1 from eight starts overall. Victor Espinoza has the call for Art Sherman.
Jairzihno is 0-for-13 since his maiden-breaking debut last summer in England, including eight consecutive defeats in California.
Fantastic Pick has won two straight, a $50,000 claimer in July at Del Mar and a nine-furlong optional claimer in August on the same course. The James Lloyd trainee was off the board in both of his stakes tries.
Royal F J needed 11 tries to break his maiden, which he did last out in a one-mile turf race Aug. 15. The Royal Academy gelding has been runner-up seven times—all in maiden special weight company.
$300,000 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT, Race 5, 4 p.m.), 3YO, 1 1/8 Miles (Turf) PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Kid Edward (IRE), D R Flores, 122, J M Cassidy
2. Jairzihno (GB), P A Valenzuela, 122, S Callaghan
3. Royal F J (KY), R Bejarano, 122, J Carava
4. Summer Movie (KY), V Espinoza, 122, A Sherman
5. Fantastic Pick (GB), C S Nakatani, 122, J Lloyd
6. Twirling Candy (KY), J Rosario, 122, J W Sadler
