Twirling Candy Has More to Come in Breakthrough Year

Two weeks ago in this space, it was noted how two sires made impressive upward climbs in the General Sires List for North America. One was Constitution . The other was Twirling Candy . 

Twirling Candy was the big climber when we last met, jumping seven places from No. 14 to No. 7. Since then, he's held that position, which is allowing praise for the Lane's End stallion's record year. He stood this year at the farm near Versailles, Ky., for $60,000.

When most people think of the very top sires, the son of Candy Ride  may not come to mind right off the bat. However, since entering stallion duties in 2012, his consistency has been the envy of many stud farms. 

His first crop hit the tracks in 2015, and from 2015-2020, Twirling Candy was the No. 2 sire in his class each year, trailing Uncle Mo each of those years. 

Twirling Candy's place on the General Sires List steadily improved, going from No. 66 in his second year to as high as No. 10 in 2021. Last year proved to be his second-best finish in terms of final ranking (No. 13) and progeny earnings ($10.7 million).

His 2021 campaign, which to date had been his best, saw Rombauer  fall just short of becoming the sire's second single-season millionaire with $890,000 in earnings. Concrete Rose was the first with that distinction in 2019. 

Jump ahead to today, and the sire is seventh overall with progeny earnings of $11.465 million with plenty of time left in the year to add to that amount. Twirling Candy's push into the top 10 has him $603,000 and change from the top 5. 

The sire of six millionaires prior to this year—Gear Jockey, Concrete Rose, Pinehurst , Morticia, Gift Box, and Rombauer--Twirling Candy's biggest earnings supporters in 2024 are his most recently minted millionaires Ag Bullet and Walkathon. Prior to winning the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes (G1T) Aug. 31, Walkathon's biggest wins were in the Endeavour Stakes (G3T) Feb. 3 and last year's Regret Stakes (G3T). That grade 1 breakthrough has been pivotal to her father's elevated status.

A winner on dirt, turf, and all-weather tracks, Twirling Candy retired with a 7-1-1 mark from 11 starts and $944,900 in earnings. His progeny, however, are making their mark on the grass. The last three years saw him ranked as the No. 7, 8, and 6 turf sire, respectively. Walkathon has helped continue that success, as her sire is this year's top turf sire with just short of $7 million in progeny earnings. 

Other top runners for Twirling Candy this year include Ag Bullet, Iscreamuscream, and standout 2-year-old filly Kilwin. 

And after all of the years looking up at Uncle Mo, his prodigious classmate, Twirling Candy has a chance to come out ahead thanks to his attention-grabbing year.