Valentine Candy gave his rivals more than they could chew with a 6 3/4-length romp on Oaklawn Park's opening day Dec. 8 in the $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-olds.
Trained by Steve Asmussen for the partnership of William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm, and Coteau Grove Farms, Valentine Candy went off the slight 9-5 betting favorite following his third-place finish in the Bowman Mill Stakes Oct.28 at Keeneland. The promising Justify colt had failed to find the winner's circle in three starts since his debut score at Saratoga Race Course.
Guided by jockey Ramon Vazquez, who rode two winners on opening day, Valentine Candy raced just behind the dueling front-runners through early fractions of :22.17 and :46.25. Angled three-wide turning for home, the blaze-faced colt powered by second choice Molly's Town and sailed clear.
Widening with every stride to the wire, Valentine Candy ($5.60) ran the 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:04.65.
Longshots Willy D's and Andy's Candy finished second and third, resulting in a $765.50 return for the 50-cent trifecta.
Valentine Candy, bred in Kentucky by Pine Creek, is the sole winner produced from the grade 1 stakes-placed Candy Ride mare Taste Like Candy.
Stakes action returns Saturday to Oaklawn with the $150,000 Ring The Bell Stakes for older horses and $150,000 Mistletoe Stakes for older fillies and mares.
