TDN RISING STARS

May 26, 2016 - Belmont Park, Race 8, AOC, USD $77,000, 1 1/16M, .0000, NW1$X

Gift Box, c, 3, 2013 by Twirling Candy

1st Dam: Special Me, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Delta Danielle, by Lord Avie
3rd Dam: Domasco Danielle, by Same Direction

Owner: W. S. Farish
Breeder: Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY)
Trainer: Chad Brown

William S. Farish’s Gift Box(Twirling Candy), a half-brother to speedy Stonetastic (Mizzen Mast), MGSW & GISP, $687,462, returned to the races in a big way Thursday in a stakes-quality 3-year-old allowance. Off a step slow, the 9-5 second-choice tracked from mid-pack early, running four wide through opening splits of :23.88 and :47.29 under a confident ride from Javier Castellano. Ranging up outside the leading trio, which included 6-5 chalk Gettysburg (Pioneerof the Nile), turning for home, the gray instantly powered past his rivals and rolled clear to a 4 1/2-length victory over 15-1 shot Realm (Haynesfield). Gettysburg completed the trifecta. Third on debut behind the now GSP Sheikh of Sheikhs (Discreetly Mine), Gift Box bested the speedy Matt King Coal (Cool Coal Man) by just a nose next out when extended to 1 1/16 miles in a sloppy off-the-turfer here Oct. 3, good enough for a 93 Beyer Speed Figure. He was last seen finishing third behind recent GI Kentucky Derby fourth Mohaymen (Tapit) in the nine-panel GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct Nov. 28. The winner’s dam, a half-sister to G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner and UAE Highweight Our New Recruit (Alphabet Soup), produced juvenile filly Divergent Thinking (Mizzen Mast); a yearling colt by Candy Ride (Arg) and recently foaled a filly by Speightstown.