Valentine Candy rolls in Advent Stakes on Oaklawn opening day

Valentine Candy took command turning for home and powered to a 6 3/4-length victory in the $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters before an estimated season-opening crowd of 14,500 Friday at Oaklawn.

The 9-5 favorite, Valentine Candy ($5.60) represented the second victory on the card for jockey Ramon Vazquez and the record-extending 105th career Oaklawn stakes victory for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Valentine Candy, a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, won for the first time since going gate-to-wire in his July 22 debut at Saratoga.

“I’m just very, if anything, relieved to see him run back to his first race,” Asmussen said. “The field that he beat at Saratoga first time out – showed great quality that day. Beautiful horse; great opportunity. That’s who he's supposed to be.”

Valentine Candy’s winning time for the 5 1/2 furlongs over a fast track was 1:04.65.

Vazquez, who returned to Oaklawn this season after previously being based in Southern California in the winter, was riding Valentine Candy for the first time.

“Steve didn’t give me any instructions,” Vazquez said. “He’s a nice horse. I just had to guide him. He put me in a good position.”

Valentine Candy raised his earnings to $195,713 following his second victory from five starts. A $250,000 yearling purchase, Valentine Candy races for a partnership that includes William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Terry Green’s Jackpot Farm.