Salty Bunch For Doubledogdare At Keeneland On Friday

[Wandering Eyes]

Friday's GIII Baird Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland has all the trappings of a high-level race as a salty group of seven older fillies and mares have assembled to go a mile and a sixteenth on the main track.

Made the 8-5 choice on Nick Tammaro's morning-line, Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes her 4-year-old debut for trainer Todd Pletcher. In 2024, the filly finished off the board in only one Grade I race out of the five. She was last seen running third in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar behind Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna).

Standing in Candied's way is 'TDN Rising Star' Tarifa (Bernardini), who won the GII Mother Goose Stakes at the Big A last October and most recently came off a break to run third in the GI Beholder Mile at Santa Anita Mar. 8. The Godolphin homebred is trained by Brad Cox.

“She just shipped up here Monday from Payson Park where she wintered very well,” said Blake Cox, son of and assistant to trainer Brad Cox. “She has put on weight and is doing well. It is a tough race [Doubledogdare], but we felt it was better suited for her than waiting for the [GI] La Troienne and having to face Kenny's filly [Thorpedo Anna].”

Also making the barrier is champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I (Justify) for breeder and owner George Krikorian. The Bill Mott trainee was the runner-up to Thorpedo Anna in the GI Kentucky Oaks last year. The bay has one start under her belt in this form cycle, which was a second-place finish against optional claimers at Gulfstream Park Mar. 13. Her regular rider Junior Alvarado has returned in time to take the mount after recovering from a race injury.

Not to be counted out is the MGISP Occult (Into Mischief) for trainer Chad Brown, and SP Dreaming of Mo (Uncle Mo) has developed some stakes experience of late for conditioner Dale Romans.

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