A 52-1 longshot, Candy Raid shocked the fans and players coming from last in a field of twelve up to ninth at the 3/4 pole to sprint to second in the straight and under Rafael Bejarano blast past the field for a 4 1/2 length victory in the $250,000 Bourbonette Oaks.
In a seesaw of a race, Let’s Be Clear under Manny Franco broke first to duel for the pace with Schlofmitz for the lead. Red Hot Mama broke second only to immediately fade to ninth. Mrs. Barbara settled in at third.
Tap Dancing ridden by Albin Jimenez was just behind in fourth but would shuffle back to eleventh before rallying up to sixth in the stretch to sprint for second. Vying for third and coming from the back were North Country and Catiche with the latter being the successor piloted by Kazushi Kimura.
Mrs. Barbara, Schlofmitz, Sandstone, Vergara, Heavenly Hellos, Let’s Be Clear, Red Hot Mama and Champagne Poetry complete the order of finish.
Candy Raid paid a whopping $106.60 for the win with $36.00 for place and $18.20 for show (always bet across, my friends). Tap Dancing Lady paid $7.20 and 8.00, and Catiche gave punters $7.80.
The race for 3-year-old fillies awarded Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points of 50-20-10-5 to the top four finishers. Earning 50 points, Candy Raid sits at #9 on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard (not yet updated) just behind Venti Valentine with 54 points. Kathleen O. is #1 with 150 total points. Click here for the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard.
Trained by Keith Desormeaux who co-owns the filly with Don’t Tell My Wife Stables, Candy Raid was based for the winter at Fair Grounds. She broke her maiden at Ellis Park in July 2021 and then won an allowance at Delta Downs Dec. 31. With a fourth place in the Silverbulletday Stakes she failed to produce in the Rachel Alexander finishing flatly in eighth. The dark bay filly has three wins in ten career starts.
The daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) out of First Samuri mare Lady Samuri, Candy Raid was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC. A 2020 Keeneland September yearling in the Denali Sales consignment, she sold for $35,000.
Past The Wire Staff UPDATED 4 4 2022 9:00 AM
Photo: Candy Raid (Coady Photography)
