Aqueduct: Ready for Candy adds to streak, wins Sands Point

Ready for Candy secured a graded double while improving to 3-for-3 in the care of trainer Philip Antonacci by winning Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile, inner-turf route for 3-year-old fillies at the Belmont at Aqueduct fall meet.

Bought by Lindy Farms for $400,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February mixed sale, Ready for Candy was moved to the Antonacci barn after seven starts as a maiden for trainer Michael DePaulo last year, including three stakes placings at Woodbine.

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The purchase has proven worthwhile as the Twirling Candy dark bay graduated in her barn debut by 7 3/4 lengths when wiring a 1 1/8-mile maiden vs. elders Aug. 17 at Saratoga ahead of a last-out score in the one-mile Winter Memories (G3) on Sept. 20 at Aqueduct. 

“She’s a little tricky, and you have to get along with her. She has her quirks,” Antonacci said. “But when it comes to the races she’s as professional as it comes, and it allows the rider to do whatever he needs to do with her, which makes her dangerous.”

Piloted by Ricardo Santana Jr., who was aboard for the Winter Memories, Ready for Candy exited post 5 as the nearly 6-5 favorite and settled into third position. She stalked the pace set by Paradise City, who was pressured mildly by Boca Queen through an opening quarter-mile in 23.61 seconds over the firm turf. 

Ready for Candy saved ground rounding the first turn and remained in third place through the half-mile in 49.32 seconds. Fast Market, Griselda and Winfinity drew up to her outside while the order in front remained the same. 

“Last time she had a little trouble and broke slow, and still she was fighting to the end,” Santana said. “Today, I loved my post and my position in the first turn. She was really comfortable.” 

Paradise City, the rallying, nose runner-up to Ready for Candy last out in the Winter Memories, continued to lead in the second turn through three-quarters in 1:14.40. Once straightened for home, a tracking Boca Queen was hard-ridden by Kendrick Carmouche and stalled a touch. Santana located a seam to the outside of Paradise City as Boca Queen ran evenly. Ready for Candy kicked on as Samuel Marín-piloted Fast Market followed suit down the center of the course.

Ready for Candy and Fast Market flew past Paradise City within the eighth pole, and it was a duel to the line following one-mile in 1:38.11. Ready for Candy was game to the inside and kept her neck in front of hard-trying Fast Market while recording a final time of 1:49.44. 

Pretty Picture closed for third, 1 3/4 lengths back. Boca Queen completed the superfecta. Paradise City, Griselda, Decadent and Winfinity rounded out the order of finish.

“Turning for home I asked, and she gave me a really nice kick,” Santana said. “I had a little room so I could get around (Paradise City), and she was much the best today. When my filly put her head in front, I knew the other one was never going to pass her. She fights until the end.”

The victory provided Antonacci with his second graded-stakes win from just five attempts.

“Perfect trip. She broke well and put herself in a spot. Ricardo protected his position and it set up perfectly for her,” Antonacci said. “Luckily the room opened up on the inside, and it worked out great.”

Antonacci said a possible next target for Ready for Candy is the Pebbles (G3) on Nov. 16 at Aqueduct.

“Either we come back in the Pebbles, or maybe that might be it for her this year and shut her down for the winter and bring her back at Keeneland in the spring,” Antonacci said. “These fillies, you can’t run the tank empty. She owes us nothing this year. She had three straight wins. We’ll get her home, and if she’s raring to go and wants to race some more, we’ll give it another shot, but we’ll let her tell us.”

Bred in Ontario by Mark Dodson, Ready for Candy is out of stakes-placed More Than Ready mare Enorée, a half-sister to Grade 3-winner Grand Bili and dual stakes-placed Conquest City Girl. She banked $110,000 in victory while improving her record to 10-3-3-2 and career earnings to $368,421.

Ready for Candy returned $4.38 for a $2 win bet.