Sweet win for 'Candyman' at Churchill Downs

Capt. Candyman Can, formerly the No. 8 horse in our 2009 Kentucky Derby rankings, moved up a couple spots with his three-length victory in the Grade 3, $111,100 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1.

The bay gelding didn't beat much, but jockey Julien Leperoux did pilot him through a speedy mile in 1:35.16 and the son of Candy Ride was drawing off at the end like a good horse, getting the last quarter-mile in 24.99 seconds.

"I think he's going to get a little bit more fit with this race," Leparoux told Churchill's John Asher. "He got a little tired at the end, so we'll see what happens and see if he if he can improve next time."

He's trained by Ian Wilkes, former assistant to Hall of Famer Carl Nafzger, who developed Kentucky Derby winners Unbridled and Street Sense.

"That's a nice race to win and that's a good two-turn race and then we can really see if he can go two turns," said Wilkes. "That's what I really want to find out. Do I have just a miler or a come-from-behind sprinter or do I really have a contender? That's what I want to find out the next time I run him."

His sire, Candy Ride, is an Argentina-bred 9-year-old who stands for a $12,500 fee at Hill "N" Dale Farms in Lexington, Ky. He was undefeated (6 for 6) in two years of racing in Argentina and the U.S. As a 4-year-old he won the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic, setting a track record (1:59.11) at Del Mar.Capt. Candyman Can is a member of Candy Ride's first crop of foals, all 2-year-olds of 2008.

Wilkes said Capt. Candyman Can would likely run next in Churchill Downs $150,000-added Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 29.

--- Bob Summers