Valentine Candy took home the fourth stakes win of the Oaklawn meet and gave his conditioner Steve Asmussen his ninth Bachelor S.
The colt's run of Hot Springs black-type success began late in his juvenile year when he won the Advent S. in early December and later that month when he captured the Renaissance S. Turning the calendar to his 3-year-old season, the chestnut won the Ozark S. Feb. 10, but shipping to Turfway he finished just off the board in the Animal Kingdom S. Mar. 23.
Back on his home court, the 7-5 choice tracked Frost Free (Frosted) from the bell as the blinkered rival tried to separate himself from the rest of the field. Valentine Candy tried to keep up with the pacesetter, and around the far turn it looked as though he was not having much success. However, with a furlong left the leader began to lose steam and that is just about the time the Asmussen trainee found his best stride which resulted in another stakes score.
The winner's dam foaled a colt by Mitole last year and she was bred to Liam's Map for this season.
BACHELOR S., $200,000, Oaklawn, 4-27, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.18, gd.
1–VALENTINE CANDY, 124, c, 3, by Justify
1st Dam: Taste Like Candy (GISP, $286,205),
by Candy Ride (Arg)
2nd Dam: My Success, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Towering Success, by Irish Tower
($250,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT). O-L. William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm LLC and Coteau Grove Farms LLC; B-Pine Creek LP (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Ricardo Santana, Jr. $114,000. Lifetime Record: 9-5-1-1, $477,875.
2–Frost Free, 121, c, 3, Frosted–D J's Favorite, by Union Rags. ($27,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $100,000 2yo '23 TTAAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Keene Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Jackpot Farm (KY); T-Brett Creighton. $38,000.
3–Cats by Five, 119, c, 3, Audible–Catticus, by Bluegrass Cat. ($575,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Three Chimneys Farm; B-Westwindfarms (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $19,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1 3/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 1.40, 7.00, 19.20.
Also Ran: Time for Truth, Bergen, Market Street, Drewmania.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-L. William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm LLC and Coteau Grove Farms LLC; B-Pine Creek LP; T-Steve Asmussen.
VALENTINE CANDY ($4.80) gets a sweet victory in the $200,000 Bachelor stakes at @OaklawnRacing. The 3-year-old Justify (@CoolmoreAmerica) gave trainer Steve Asmussen his 9th win in this stakes. @RSantana_Jr was in the saddle.
Play the next: https://t.co/oe6KMARgBG pic.twitter.com/pw1iPwNRk8
— FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) April 27, 2024
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