Trainer John Sadler said the morning of Aug. 15 it’s not likely that Sidney's Candy, winner of the Aug. 14 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT) will run at Del Mar again this meet. The race typically serves as a major prep for the Del Mar Derby (gr. II) Sept. 5.
"That race was pretty fast, so I don't expect to bring him back again (this meet)," the trainer said in a statement. "He came back from the race in great shape and he looks wonderful.”
Sidney's Candy, in an all-out speed duel with Macias through six furlongs, won by 5 1/2 lengths in the record time of 1:39.52 for the 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The previous record was 1:39.67 set by Mea Domina in the 2006 Palomar Handicap.
The three finishers closest to Sidney's Candy are moving on to the Derby, their trainers said this morning. "Definitely, we're going on to the Derby," said Jim Cassidy of his runner-up, Kid Edward. "He ran a big race. He closed a lot of ground." Alexis Barba, whose Alphie's Bet finished third, said he would be pointed to the Derby, also, as will fourth-place finisher Summer Movie, according to his trainer, Art Sherman.
While Sadler probably won't be saddling Sidney's Candy for the Derby, he will have another Candy Ride colt to send out in the 1 1/8-mile race--Twirling Candy , impressive winner of the one-mile Oceanside Stakes July 21. Also, Sadler said he would nominate Twirling Candy to Del Mar’s Pacific Classic (gr. I) Presented by TVG Aug. 28.
In other Del Mar news, Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Awesome Gem and San Diego Handicap (gr. II) victor Dakota Phone worked the morning of Aug. 15 toward their prospective starts in the Pacific Classic.
Awesome Gem, with regular rider David Flores up for the work, went five furlongs on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course in 1:04 2/5. Trainer Craig Dollase said the 7-year-old who will be making his fourth start in the Pacific Classic started off a little slow but finished up well. "I think he worked very well," Dollase said in a release. "He went over the course easily and David made him work beyond the finish line."
Dollase said the gelding by Awesome Again will work next Aug. 20 or 21 will be back on the main track.
Dan Ward, assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, said he was pleased with Dakota Phone's five-furlong work on the main track in 1:01 3/5. "He went very well," Ward said in a statement. "Everything is going perfect right now for him. We're right on target."
Exercise rider Marco Ramirez handled Dakota Phone in the workout.