'Perfect' Breeze for Danzing Candy

Several of the West Coast's leading Triple Crown aspirants got in their final major works Saturday morning for the upcoming GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 9.

'TDN Rising Star' Danzing Candy (Twirling Candy), an impressive front-running winner of the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 12, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 under regular rider Mike Smith while in company.

“Perfect,” is how trainer Cliff Sise Jr. termed the move. “Even though it looks like a small field for the Santa Anita Derby, post positions will be important, especially with the speed in there now. We don't have to be in front, but I'll pretty much leave it up to Mike.”

Exaggerator (Curlin), second to champion Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in the Feb. 15 GII San Vicente S. and third behind Danzing Candy in the San Felipe, worked five furlongs for trainer Keith Desormeaux with brother Kent aboard in 1:02.80.

“It was a little slower than he's used to going,” Keith said. “But Kent said he was well in hand and galloped out strong.”

Also working for the Santa Anita Derby were San Pedro S. winner Iron Rob (Twirling Candy), six furlongs in 1:14.40 for George Papaprodromou; San Felipe fifth Smokey Image (Southern Image), six furlongs in 1:13.40 for Carla Gaines; and San Felipe fourth Uncle Lino (Uncle Mo), five furlongs in 1:02.40 for Gary Sherlock.