Ollie’s Candy Seeks Grade I Glory in DMR Oaks

[Wandering Eyes]

Ollie’s Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) is just a neck short of being perfect after suffering the first loss of her young career when a close second in the GII San Clemente S. going a mile over this course July 21 and she looks to make amends Saturday in the nine-panel GI Del Mar Oaks. Winning her first two starts over the Golden Gate synthetic by a combined 14 1/4 lengths this spring, the dark bay followed suit with a victory in the GII Summertime Oaks on the Santa Anita dirt June 16 and made a strong late bid to come up just a bit short last out in her turf debut in the San Clemente.

Paved (Quality Road) is likely to give her a run for her money if she can rebound from a disappointing effort on the East Coast. Beating the boys in the El Camino Real Derby on the Golden Gate synthetic in February, the $320,000 OBSMAR buy checked in third behind the reopposing Fatale Bere (Fr) (Pedro the Great) and Ms Bad Behavior (Blame) in Santa Anita’s GIII Providencia S. Apr. 7. She won her first graded event next out when besting the commonly owner Animosity (Animal Kingdom) by 3 1/2 lengths in the GII Honeymoon S. in Arcadia June 9, but could only manage eighth in the GI Belmont Oaks July 7.

The right coast does have a representative in this test in the Graham Motion-trained Colonia (Fr) (Champs Elysees {GB}). Winner of one of her five starts in her native France, the bay rallied late to capture Arlington’s Hatoof S. by 1 3/4 lengths when making her American debut July 7. Motion has done well when shipping to California and shows confidence by choosing this spot rather than staying in Chicago for last weekend’s GIII Pucker Up S.

Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale sends out an undefeated runner in search of her black-type badge in Californiagoldrush (Cape Blanco {Ire}). Graduating by a nose in her turf sprint unveiling at Santa Anita Dec. 26, the chestnut captured a one-mile optional claimer over the Arcadia lawn last time Feb. 4.

 

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