Golden Gate Horse Racing Chocolate Candy Wins on Valentine’s Day
Golden Gate Horse Racing By Profitus Maximus February 14, 2009
1-2 favorite Chocolate Candy held off a determined late run from 9-1 shot Massone in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields.
Breaking from the outside post, jockey Russel Baze settled Chocolate Candy into 4th position on the outside, and as a result ended up going 3-wide turning onto the backstretch.
Midway down the backstretch, Russel Baze positioned Chocolate Candy right outside of Axel Foley, who was the second choice in the betting, but by the five-sixteenths pole, Chocolate Candy was clearly going better than Axel Foley and that one didn't respond to jockey Michael Baze’s urgings well enough to keep pace with the favorite.
At the 1/8 pole, Chocolate Candy extended his lead about a length over the field but Massone rallied boldy down at the rail and was going just as well as Chocolate Candy in deep stretch, but couldn't quite get to him.
He is expected to run in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4 but may also try the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) on March 14.
The final time over the Golden Gate Tapeta surface was 150.44 seconds.
