Candy Overload was full of run late to notch his first stakes victory in the $203,300 Kennedy Road (G3) for 3-year-olds and up Sunday at Woodbine.
Multiple graded stakes winner Silent Poet skipped out to lead the field of 10 in the six-furlong Tapeta event, with even-money choice Arzak pressing through an opening quarter in :22.41, while late-running Candy Overload was unhurried and settled into ninth spot.
Arzak, a head on top, and Silent Poet continued their upfront battle and took their rivals through a brisk half in :44.85, as Sahin Civaci, aboard Candy Overload, kept the 4-year-old son of Reload running unfettered in eighth place.
The front-end tussle remained through three-quarters, as Candy Overload began to circle rivals to the far outside, setting up a clear path down the lane in an attempt to reel in the leaders.
Silent Poet took over the proceedings at the stretch call, but Ice Chocolat soon arrived on the scene, while Candy Overload continued to gobble up ground, eventually getting the measure of his stablemate, 19-1 Ice Chocolat, to notch a three-quarter length win in a time of 1:09.17. Lucky Score rallied stoutly to finish third. Silent Poet held on for fourth.
Bred in Ontario by Northern Dawn Stables Inc. and Denny Andrews, the bay gelding is trained by Mark Casse for owners Leonard Schleifer, Wachtel Stable, and Gary Barber.
With the win, Candy Overload is now 4-5-1 from 15 career starts.
“Today, the races were playing the speed,” said Civaci. “But I knew we had to come off [the pace], so that was a little bit challenging. I had a good trip overall. I had the outside and when the horse kicked on down the lane, it was clear and he ran good.”
Candy Overload debuted on July 12, 2020 at Woodbine and finished sixth. One race later, he broke his maiden courtesy of a 37-1 upset at 6 ½-furlongs over the Woodbine Tapeta.
He paid $17.40 for Sunday's win.
The post Determined Late Run Propels Candy Overload To First Stakes Win In Kennedy Road appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
