Ahh Chocolate Works for Black-Eyed Susan

Stoneway Farm homebred Ahh Chocolate (Candy Ride {Arg}), unbeaten in two career starts, prepped for her stakes debut in Friday’s GII Black-Eyed Susan S. with a half-mile work in :49.20 at Churchill Downs Saturday. 

“I was very pleased,” trainer Neil Howard said afer the work. “It’s cliche to say this, but it’s what we were looking for. It was a nice half, not flying but not crawling–just enough to get the blood circulating and she galloped out good. The emphasis is on the gallop out.” 

A debut winner at Gulfstream in February, Ahh Chocolate is coming off a 1 1/16-mile allowance tally at Keeneland Apr. 8 (video). 

“You always fear everybody,” Howard said of his filly’s impending class jump. “We feel good about it, but we are going in there with a filly that’s only run twice. She’s definitely going in the right direction but you always have to wait and see.” 

Jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr., who was aboard for the work has plenty of confidence in the filly. 

“She’s a special kind of filly,” Hernandez said. “She’s the type of filly that every question we’ve asked her she’s answered. Even in the mornings she seems like the type of filly that’s going to step it up again. She’s just going to have to show it on Friday.” 

Ahh Chocolate is out of Ahh (Saint Liam), a half-sister to graded stakes winners Lone Star Sky (Conquistador Cielo) and Rahystrada (Rahy).