Candy Cane Rallies to Win the Unbridled Sidney

May 08, 2010 Gary Yunt

Michael Dubb’s Candy Cane split horses in deep stretch to win the $54,972 Unbridled Sidney for fillies and mares by a neck over Ivory Empress on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
    
Trained by Rick Dutrow and ridden by Garrett Gomez, Candy Cane covered the five furlongs on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in :57.45. The victory was worth $30,480 and increased Candy Cane’s earnings to $249,919 with a record of 34-8-11-1.

    Gomez had Candy Cane in fifth place in the run down the backside off a four-horse speed duel among Knockout Bertie, Selva, Trusty Temper and Valentine Fever. Gomez angled Candy Cane to the hedge in the run to the far turn and stayed there waiting for room until the sixteenth pole.

When an opening appeared, Gomez moved Candy Cane outside of Selva and inside of the fast-closing Ivory Empress for the winning move.

Candy Cane returned $7.20, $4.60 and $3. Ivory Empress, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $8.40 and $4 and finished a length ahead of Selva, who finished third under Robby Albarado and paid $2.80. It was a nose back to Knockout Bertie, who was followed in order by Valentine Fever, Trusty Temper and Pina Colada.

Candy Cane is a 6-year-old Michigan-bred daughter of Indian Charlie out of the Key to the Mint mare Peppermint Promise.

Earlier on the card, jockey Corey Lanerie got his 200th riding victory at Churchill Downs when he piloted Moments Away ($8.80) to a triumph in the third race. Lanerie is a 35-year-old native of Lafayette, La.

    Racing resumes Sunday with an 11-race Mother’s Day program that begins at 12:45 p.m. (EDT).

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will host the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on Saturday, May 1 and the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, April 30. The track will conduct its 2010 Spring Meet from Saturday, April 24 through Sunday, July 4. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5 and 6, 2010. Churchill Downs tickets are available at Tickets.ChurchillDowns.com or by calling (502) 636-4400. Additional information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at ChurchillDowns.com.

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