9th-Churchill Downs, $123,240, Msw, 5-21, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.89, fm, 1 3/4 lengths.
TAKING CANDY (c, 3, Twirling Candy–Taking Aim, by Trappe Shot), not seen since his debut last August at Saratoga in a route over the turf where he finished a well-beaten sixth, returned here as the 8-1 choice.
The bay colt settled mid-pack as the leaders tried to slow the pace down the backstretch. Into the far turn, Taking Candy looked for running room along the rail, cut to the three path at the top of the lane, but finding a gap past the eighth pole, dove towards the fence and rallied past 2-1 favorite St. Neots (Flintshire {GB}) for a 1 3/4-length victory.
Second dam Winning Call (Deputy Minister) is responsible for the terribly missed GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero Tapizar (Tapit) and his full-sister Tamboz, who produced the likes of GISP Creative Minister (Creative Cause) and MGSP Oceanwave (Harlan's Holiday).
The winner is his dam's first offspring, but the $200,000 '19 Fasig-Tipton Winter sale purchase by KatieRich Farms has produced an unraced 2-year-old named Rascality (Into Mischief). That filly, who worked out at Santa Anita on Sunday going three furlongs (:38.40, 21/31), was bought by Legacy Ranch at the '22 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling sale for $190,000. Taking Aim also has yearling filly by Speightstown.
Sales History: $155,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $400,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $70,050. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Lael Stables; B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.