Candy Ride

Candy Ride (foaled 1999 in Argentina) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who went undefeated in six starts on both turf and dirt racing surfaces in Argentina and the United States and who recorded the highest Beyer Speed Figure of 2003.

Background

Candy Ride was sired by American-bred Ride The Rails, who raced in the United States and stood at stud in Argentina. His grandsire was American multiple Grade 1 winner Cryptoclearance, who was a grandson of Mr. Prospector. He was out of the mare Candy Girl, a daughter of Candy Stripes, who also sired 2005 American Champion Male Turf Horse Leroidesanimaux, and 2006 American Horse of the Year Invasor.

Racing record

In Argentina

In 2002, Candy Ride made his racing debut in Argentina on a dirt surface, winning by twelve lengths. His next two races were Group One events on turf, both of which he won by eight lengths. His dominating performances earned the colt Argentine Champion Miler honors.

In the United States

In January 2003, Candy Ride was purchased for US$900,000 by Americans Sid and Jenny Craig. The couple had previously met with great success with horses bought in Argentina, most notably with Paseana, who won the 1992 Breeders' Cup Distaff and was voted the Eclipse Award as American Champion Older Female Horse for 1992 and 1993.

Racing in California for trainer Ron McAnally, in June 2003 Candy Ride won his American debut on dirt by three lengths. He then won July's Grade II American Handicap on turf and, in what turned out to be his last race, was ridden by Julie Krone to a 3¼ length victory in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes in a track record time for 1¼ miles on dirt of 1:59:11, beating Medaglia d'Oro (2nd), Fleetstreet Dancer (3rd), and Milwaukee Brew (4th). In winning the Pacific Classic, Candy Ride earned a Beyer speed figure of 123, the highest of any horse in the United States in 2003.

Because Candy Ride was born in Argentina, his owners had not nominated him for the Breeders' Cup and as such, the Craigs were required to pay an $800,000 supplemental fee if they wanted to run their horse in the Breeders' Cup Classic. However, because Candy Ride had been in training for three straight years and with a view to the 2004 racing season, Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally chose to rest the horse instead. Candy Ride returned to training in December 2003, but a fetlock ligament injury ended his racing career, and he was retired to stud duty at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Lexington, Kentucky.

Stud record

The best known of Candy Ride's offspring include the filly Evita Argentina and the colt Misremembered, both foaled in 2006. Evita Argentina won the 2008 Moccasin Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack and the 2009 San Vicente Stakes. Misremembered, raced by George Jacobs, won the 2009 Swaps Stakes and Indiana Derby and was second in the Clark Handicap and Malibu Stakes. In 2010, he won the Santa Anita Handicap.

Another of Candy Ride's sons, Sidney's Candy, set a track record for 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar. In addition, Twirling Candy became a star on the West Coast in 2010 and 2011, winning multiple grade 1 races on turf and dirt. John Sadler, who trains Sidney's Candy and Twirling Candy, is quoted as saying that Twirling Candy is the best horse he's ever trained. Both horses are owned by the Craig Family Trust of Sid and Jenny Craig.

See also

• List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses

References

• Candy Ride's pedigree and partial racing stats
• August 27, 2003 Thoroughbred Times article on Candy Ride
• Video at YouTube of Candy Ride winning the 2003 Pacific Classic Stakes
• Candy Ride at Hill 'n' Dale Farms