The daughter of Señor Candy kept her undefeated streak intact once her jockey took the reins, valiantly winning the Handicap Guatán
Since Kevin Banegas took over the reins of Hello Candy, the imposing filly (who weighed in at 520 kilos) from Stud Don Oscarcito has seen a remarkable upswing in form. After snapping a 14-race losing streak with Banegas aboard, she doubled down on that resurgence by stepping up in class and claiming victory in Friday’s Handicap Guatán at San Isidro, adding a touch of prestige to a previously unremarkable record.
Well-placed from the start, the daughter of Señor Candy translated her early dominance into a determined stretch run, surging along the rail and fending off a late challenge from Aiyanna (Santillano, 56.5kg). That came after Fantastic Woman (In the Dark, 56.5kg), the favorite, dictated the early pace with fractions of :23.93 and :47.20, despite some pre-race antics at the gate.
At the wire, Hello Candy held on by a head over Aiyanna, with Fantastic Woman finishing third, another two lengths back. Opera Garnier (Safety Check, 57kg), carrying top weight, never fired and trailed in fourth, a full eight lengths behind, while Cuentacuentos (Violence, 51.5kg) finished far back. With three defections from the original lineup of eight, the final time of 1:10.31 was solid in every aspect.
Trained by Víctor Fernández and bred by Haras La Leyenda, Hello Candy, who will soon turn six, now boasts five wins from 25 starts, with career earnings totaling 17,685,750 pesos.
The afternoon’s heroine at San Isidro is out of Harley Street (Milwaukee Brew), a multiple winner imported in utero from the United States, who won six races and placed second in the G3 Clásico Arturo A. Bullrich and Handicap Florentino Ameghino, among other notable performances.
Her third dam, Tap to Music (Pleasant Tap), was a top-class performer in the U.S., capturing six races, including the G1 Gazelle Handicap, G2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap, and G3 Delaware Handicap.
Comments