Chocolate Candy put the finishing touches on his preparations for the June 6 running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I), with a final breeze at Belmont Park June 1.
With exercise rider Lindsey Molina in the saddle, Chocolate Candy covered a half-mile in :50.25 on the main track at approximately 7 a.m.
Chocolate Candy, owned by Jenny Craig and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, arrived in New York four days after his fifth-place finish in the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr.I) May 2.
“He has progressed very well since he first got here,” Molina said. “Now, all I can say is, he just skips over the track. (Monday’s work); that was just galloping for him. I had to take another hold of him to keep him from doing more.”
Hollendorfer was at his home base in Northern California and did not witness the work by the homebred son of Candy Ride . The trainer was present for the three other breezes Chocolate Candy had at Belmont Park. Hollendorfer is expected to arrive back in New York June 3.
Chocolate Candy, seen here during a previous work, breezed a half-mile at Belmont Park June 1.
Anne Eberhardt