Chocolate Candy: A Horse Racing Treat
The magnificent three year old Chocolate Candy has most definitely been bred with the genes to run. Out of the mare Crownette (Seattle Slew), a stakes winner during her career, and with Pacific Classic Stakes winner, Candy Ride, as sire, Chocolate Candy was off to a good start. Fortunately he also possesses natural talent and the ability to become a great athlete. Over the last year he has shown improvement in every race and on Saturday, 14 February 2009, he added another victory to his career.
Some of his best performances include winning a Maiden Special Weight, the Real Quiet Stakes, the California Derby and a third place finish in the Grade One CashCall Futurity. He has also been nominated for the Triple Crown races, which puts a little pressure on him to perform well. But on Saturday, during the running of the Grade Three El Camino Real Derby, held at Golden Gate Fields, Chocolate Candy showed determination and a fighting spirit, even though his performance was seen as a little disappointing.
Ridden by Russel Baze, Chocolate Candy had to fight off Massone to hold onto first position, which was a little unexpected, as many believed that he would win comfortably. The lead was taken by Aquicksting early in the race, with Massone at the back of the pack and Chocolate Candy joined Axel Foley in chasing down the leader. After working his way into the lead, Chocolate Candy was challenged by Massone, who had come up on the inside, leaving Rendezvous in third place and Axel Foley in fourth position. Even though Frank Alvarado, on board Massone, thought they had a good chance to cause an upset, Chocolate Candy was not prepared to give up the lead, and held off Massone to win the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Field.
After the race, winning jockey Russel Baze commented, “He was a little too fresh and it made it tougher than if he would have relaxed, but he was a good enough horse to get the job done.” As many expected a bigger win by the three year old, Baze reminded everyone that, “My horse was just empty. Horses are like us in that they can have a bad day and I guess he had a bad day today.”
