Candy Quest wins the Ontario Colleen (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications
TORONTO – Candy Quest, under Sahin Civaci, zipped by a pair of rivals late to win the $150,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T), Saturday at Woodbine.
The daughter of Connect out of the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Candy Crush delivered a sterling performance in the one-mile turf event for 3-year-old fillies to notch her first stakes success for owner Glassman Racing LLC and dual hall of fame trainer Mark Casse.
It was Irish-bred Lupa and British-bred It Ain’t Two who clashed on the front end just strides out of the gate, with the former holding a narrow advantage through an opening panel in :23.39, as Civaci, who won the Trillium (G3) earlier on the card, settled his charge into seven of eight in the early going.
It Ain’t Two, who took over top spot through a half in :46.62, while Candy Quest remained unhurried in seventh, was still in command coming out of the turn for home.
Less than 350 yards to the wire, Civaci called upon Candy Quest and the dark bay responded with a tremendous turn of foot, splitting rivals to charge to the lead a sixteenth out, en route to a 1 ¾-length win. Somethinabouther was second, a nose in front of It Ain’t Two. Boca Queen (IRE), who had a troubled start, was fourth. Social Code was scratched.
The final time over a firm E.P. Taylor turf was 1:33.51.
“I got on the horse in the morning,” said Civaci, who notched his 700th lifetime win earlier on the card. “I liked her, and we had an easy, comfortable trip, and then everything opened up and she kicked on.
“She was in full run, so I didn’t have to encourage her more. She was doing it herself.”
Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Candy Quest, second in this year’s Sanibel Stakes (March 29) and runner-up in the Penn Oaks (June 27), is now 3-2-0 from seven starts.
A $225,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale, she broke her maiden first time out, a two-length score over six furlongs on the outer turf at Belmont at the Big A on October 3, 2024.
Candy Quest paid $7.60 as the second choice.
