'Candy' Looms Large in Affirmed

“TDN Rising Star” Danzing Candy (Twirling Candy) makes his first start for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert Saturday in Santa Anita's GIII Affirmed S. Following his second-out graduation with a dominant optional claimer score Feb. 4, the Halo Farms and Jim and Diane Bashor runner followed suit with a win in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 12. Fading to fourth behind Exaggerator (Curlin) after leading the way in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 9, the dark bay lead the way early on in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7 before tiring to 15th and was subsequently transferred from Cliff Sise to Baffert.

“It will be interesting,” Baffert said. “His last two races were sort of disasters. We taught him how to harness some of that speed. He's got a good post [five of five] and we should have options from there. I'm looking forward to seeing if what we've done has made a difference and to see what we have”

The Keith Desormeaux-trained Dalmore (Colonel John) enters off a track-and-trip optional claimer victory May 29. The runner-up from that test Prince of Arabia (Mineshaft) and third-place finisher Curlin Rules (Curlin) also return here.