Taking Candy with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard wins the 39th running of the Grade III $175,000 Fair Grounds Stakes at Fair Grounds. (Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir)
Scores First Stakes Title
Fair Grounds Release
NEW ORLEANS, La.– Lael Stables’ Taking Candy scored his first graded stake in the $175,000 Fair Grounds Stakes presented by Horse Racing Nation (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Taking Candy was piloted by Irad Ortiz Jr. In his first try at 1 1/18 miles, the son of Twirling Candy stopped the clock in 1:50.44 over a firm turf course.
After breaking sharply, Taking Candy positioned himself nicely to track Higgins Boat who showed the way, clipping through opening fractions :23.63 and :49.62. Maneuvered to the rail by Ortiz Jr., Taking Candy saved every inch in the far turn and as the homestretch opened up to the field of nine males, Higgins Boat continued to ward off the bids of his stalkers while Taking Candy tipped out and produced the winning bid, finishing 1 length ahead of Higgins Boat.
“It was a beautiful trip,” Ortiz Jr. said. “He traveled so good. I kept him back and bided my time. When he got in the clear my colt was there for me.”
What Say Thee rallied late for third, followed by Idratherbeblessed, Unit Economics, Money Supply, Relampago Verde, Gigante, and Dean Martini.
“Taking Candy has been a horse that has had a couple issues along the way,” DeVaux said. “Every time he runs, he tries. It’s rewarding that the Jacksons have been so patient with him and have allowed us to do our job to the best of our abilities. I really just wanted to get him back to the races. He came in looking fantastic and ready to fire.”
Taking Candy returned $8.60, $5.00, and $3.80. Piloted by Declan Cannon, Higgins Boat paid $10.60 and $6, while What Say Thee, under Luis Saez, returned $4 to show.
Making the Fair Grounds Stakes the fourth victory of his 9-race career, Taking Candy improved his career record to 9-4-2-1, boosting his earnings to $280,730.
