Millionaire 4YO Filly Pulls Away to Win by Three Lengths
BALTIMORE – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bobby Flay’s millionaire filly Candied, making just her second start outside of graded-stakes competition and first in nearly a year, powered past pacesetter Dazzling Move in mid-stretch and went on to a three-length victory in Friday’s $125,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes presented by Old Bay at Pimlico Race Course.
The 32nd running of the 1 1/8-mile Allaire du Pont for fillies and mares 3 and up was the first of six stakes, three graded, worth $1.05 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race Black-Eyed Susan (G2) Day program headlined by the 101st edition of the nine-furlong fixture for 3-year-old fillies.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Candied ($3.80) completed the distance in 1:50.47 over a fast main track. It was the first du Pont win for Ortiz and fifth for Pletcher following Pool Land (2006), Super Espresso (2011), Stopchargingmaria (2015) and Spice Is Nice (2021).
Dazzling Move jumped out to the lead from her rail post pressed by Peignoir through fractions of 23.16 and 47.73 seconds. Candied rated patiently saving ground in fifth after a half-mile before Ortiz tipped the 4-year-old daughter of Candy Ride outside on the far turn. Peignoir dropped back and Candied set her sights on the leader, drifting in slightly down the lane but pulling away late.
It was 1 ½ lengths from Dazzling Move to 30-1 longshot Regaled in third. Peignoir, Lemon Muffin and Miss Hebrides completed the order of finish. Sea Dancer, who acted up in the starting gate, and Sudden Switch were scratched.
Candied was making just her second start of the year, having run third in the April 18 Doubledogdare (G3) at Keeneland. Eight of her 10 career starts have come in graded-stakes, including a win in the 2023 Alcibiades (G1). She had not won since the 2024 Lady’s Secret last June.
The du Pont honors the late avid sportswoman and horsewoman best known as the owner of Hall of Famer Kelso, the unprecedented and unsurpassed winner of five consecutive Horse of the Year championships from 1960-64.
$125,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes Quotes
Winning Trainer Todd Pletcher (Candied) — “It was nice to see her back in the winner’s circle, We had a beautiful trip, Saved ground around the first turn and [jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.)] bided his time around the second turn and it looked like when he got her in the clear, she finished well. We felt like everything fit well with this race. I think everything is in play (for what would be next). We will see how she bounces out of it. The Ogden Phipps (Saturday, June 8 at Saratoga) might be back a little quick, but we are not going to rule it out yet.
Winning Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Candied) — “She was running beautifully. I was able to get close to the pace without using her, without doing anything. I just bided my time from there and turning for home, I just got in the clear and she showed up.”