Woodbine roundup: Candy Quest, Literate win graded stakes
Candy Quest under jockey Sahin Civaci zipped past a pair of rivals late to win Saturday in the Grade 3, US$116,256 Ontario Colleen Stakes on the turf at Woodbine.
The daughter of Connect out of Candy Ride mare Candy Crush delivered a sterling performance in the one-mile event for 3-year-old fillies to notch her first stakes success for owner Glassman Racing and Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.
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It was Ireland-bred Lupa and Great Britain-bred It Ain’t Two who clashed on the front end just strides out of the gate. Lupa held a narrow advantage through an opening quarter-mile in 23.39 seconds. Civaci, who won the Trillium (G3) earlier on the card, settled his charge next to last in the field of eight.
It Ain’t Two took over top spot through a half-mile in 46.62 seconds. Candy Quest remained unhurried in seventh coming out of the turn for home.
Less than 350 yards from the finish, Civaci called on Candy Quest, and the dark bay responded with a tremendous turn of foot, splitting rivals to charge to the lead a sixteenth of a mile out en route to a 1 3/4-length win.
Somethinabouther was second, a nose in front of third-place It Ain’t Two. Boca Queen, who had a troubled start, was fourth. Social Code was scratched.
The final time over the firm turf was 1:33.51.
“I got on the horse in the morning,” said Civaci, who notched his 700th lifetime win earlier on the card. “I liked her, and we had an easy, comfortable trip, and then everything opened up, and she kicked on. ... She was in full run, so I didn't have to encourage her more. She was doing it herself.”
Bred in Kentucky by Watts Humphrey Jr., Candy Quest was second March 29 in the Sanibel Stakes and the runner-up June 27 in the Penn Oaks. She is 7: 3-2-0.
A $225,000 purchase at the September 2023 Keeneland yearling sale, Candy Quest broke her maiden on debut with a two-length score over six furlongs on the outer turf at Belmont at the Big A on Oct. 3.
Candy Quest paid $7.60 as the second choice.
Literate rallies to win Trillium
Literate saved her best for last Saturday to win the Grade 3, US$116,256 Trillium Stakes on the synthetic track at Woodbine.
Sent off as the 7-2 second choice in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, the 5-year-old daughter of Oscar Performance out of Henrythenavigator mare Infanta Branca sat last of six through opening splits of 24.10 and 47.51 seconds.
Civaci had the Marty Drexler trainee hugging the rail turning for home. He then found a seam where they could take aim at leader and post-time favorite Caitlinhergrtness, who hit front straightening for the stretch drive.
Inside the last 70 yards, Literate pushed past game Caitlinhergrtness, last year’s King’s Plate winner, to post a determined, half-length win. Fashionably Fab was third and For Flying fourth.
The final time was 1:43.23.
It was the first career stakes triumph for Literate, owned by C2 Racing Stable.
“I figured that she’s going to come running,” said Drexler, who also sent out fifth-place Veery. “As it turned out we saved ground all the way around there, so it actually was a great trip.”
Literate launched her career with four races at Gulfstream Park. She was second in her debut on Dec. 4, 2022. She broke her maiden in her fifth start, a two-length score at 1 1/16 miles over the Woodbine synthetic on June 22, 2024, doubling up one month later at the Toronto oval.
She was sixth in the La Troienne (G1) on May 2 at Churchill Downs and arrived at the Trillium off a fourth to Caitlinhergrtness in the Belle Mahone (G3) at Woodbine on May 31.
“I just thought that we had a little bit of a wide trip last time,” Drexler said. “She’s coming to this race training even better than she did the last time. Not to take away from (Caitlinhergrtness). She’s a great filly, but I really do think this is a good horse.”
Literate, now 15: 5-3-1, was a $27,000 purchase at the September 2021 Keeneland yearling sale.
Ned Hayes is Literate’s groom.
Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto, Literate paid $9.90 for the win.