Ollie's Candy out of Santa Anita's Gamely, to stay on dirt
Ollie’s Candy, the 4-1 morning line second choice had she gone in Monday’s Gamely Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, scratched after John Sadler instead sent out the star mare for a five-furlong workout in a minute flat the morning of the race.
“We’re going to save her for the dirt,” Sadler said. “I entered her as sort of a look-see.”
Ollie’s Candy had drawn post No. 2 in a top field of 11 older fillies and mares on turf.
While she’s Grade 1-placed over the lawn, the 5-year-old daughter of Candy Ride is a Grade 1 winner on the main track who was a head away from winning Oaklawn Park’s Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) in her latest start.
Sadler said Ollie’s Candy could be entered next for Sunday’s $200,000 Santa Maria (G2) going 1 1/16 miles or ship out for the $300,000 Ogden Phipps (G1) on June 13 at Belmont Park.
Without Ollie’s Candy, the Gamely remains a contentious event with an intriguing favorite as the French Group 3 winner Etoile will go first out for trainer Chad Brown from the rail. Brown also trains the new second choice, Beautiful Lover, who was Grade 2-placed last out.
Locally, the one to beat is Lady Prancealot, who won the American Oaks (G1) to cap her 3-year-old season and exits a layoff dating back to her fourth-place finish in the Buena Vista (G2) back in February.
The Gamely, one of three graded turf events Memorial Day at Santa Anita, goes as Race 11 at 8:39 p.m. ET.