Candy Ride

Candy Ride (foaled September 27, 1999 in Argentina) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and current stallion who went undefeated in six starts on both turf and dirt racing surfaces in Argentina and the United States, and who recorded the highest Beyer Speed Figure of 2003.

Background
Candy Ride is a bay stallion standing 16 hands  inch tall. He was sired by American-bred Ride The Rails, who raced in the United States and stood at stud in Argentina. His grandsire is American multiple Grade 1 winner Cryptoclearance, who was a grandson of Mr. Prospector. He is out of the mare Candy Girl, a daughter of Candy Stripes, who also sired 2005 American Champion Male Turf Horse Leroidesanimaux, and 2006 American Horse of the Year Invasor.

Racing record

In Argentina
In 2002, Candy Ride made his racing debut in Argentina on a dirt surface, winning by twelve lengths. His next two races were Group One events on turf, both of which he won by eight lengths. His dominating performances earned the colt Argentine Champion Miler honors.

In the United States
In January 2003, Candy Ride was purchased for US$900,000 by Americans Sid and Jenny Craig. The couple had previously met with great success with horses bought in Argentina, most notably with Paseana, who won the 1992 Breeders' Cup Distaff and was voted the Eclipse Award as American Champion Older Female Horse for 1992 and 1993.

Racing in California for trainer Ron McAnally, in June 2003 Candy Ride won his American debut on dirt by three lengths. He then won July's Grade II American Handicap on turf and, in what turned out to be his last race, was ridden by Julie Krone to a 3¼ length victory in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes in a track record time for 1¼ miles on dirt of 1:59:11, beating Medaglia d'Oro (2nd), Fleetstreet Dancer (3rd), and Milwaukee Brew (4th). In winning the Pacific Classic, Candy Ride earned a Beyer speed figure of 123, the highest of any horse in the United States in 2003.

Because Candy Ride was born in Argentina, his owners had not nominated him for the Breeders' Cup and as such, the Craigs were required to pay an $800,000 supplemental fee if they wanted to run their horse in the Breeders' Cup Classic. However, because Candy Ride had been in training for three straight years and with a view to the 2004 racing season, Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally chose to rest the horse instead. Candy Ride returned to training in December 2003, but a fetlock ligament injury ended his racing career, and he was retired to stud duty at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Lexington, Kentucky.

Stud record
Due in part to the poor stud records of other imported South American horses such as Sandpit and Gentlemen, not much was expected of Candy Ride at stud when he entered stud in 2005. However, he proved his doubters wrong early in his career, ranking third on the first-crop American sires list in 2008.

Candy Ride's first crop, foaled in 2006, produced Grade 1 winners Evita Argentina and Misremembered. Evita Argentina won the 2008 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack and the 2008 Moccasin Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack, as well as the 2009 San Vicente Stakes and La Brea Stakes. Misremembered, raced by George Jacobs, won the 2009 Swaps Stakes and Indiana Derby and was second in the Clark Handicap and Malibu Stakes. In 2010, he won the Santa Anita Handicap.

Another of Candy Ride's sons, Sidney's Candy, set a track record for 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar.  In addition, Twirling Candy became a star on the West Coast in 2010 and 2011, winning multiple Gr.I races on turf and dirt. John Sadler, who trained both Sidney's Candy and Twirling Candy, is quoted as saying that Twirling Candy is the best horse he's ever trained.  Both horses are owned by the Craig Family Trust of Sid and Jenny Craig.

Candy Ride also sired the ill-fated gelding Shared Belief, who was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse in 2013 and won five Grade 1 stakes from ages 2 to 4. More recently, Candy Ride has sired Gun Runner, who finished third in the 2016 Kentucky Derby and went on to win the Clark Handicap later that year.

Candy Ride's most notable progeny includes:
 Gun Runner: 2017 Horse of the Year. In 2016, won Louisiana Derby, Risen Star Stakes, Matt Winn Stakes. Finished 3rd in 2016 Kentucky Derby, 3rd Travers Stakes, and 3rd Pennsylvania Derby. In 2017, won Razorback Handicap, Stephen Foster Handicap, Whitney Handicap, Woodward Stakes, and Breeders' Cup Classic. Was also 2nd in Dubai World Cup. In 2018, 1st in Pegasus World Cup
 Shared Belief: In 2013, won Los Alamitos Futurity and Bob Hope Stakes, named Eclipse Champion Juvenile Male. In 2014, won Pacific Classic Stakes, Awesome Again Stakes, Malibu Stakes, Los Alamitos Derby. In 2015, won Santa Anita Handicap and San Antonio Stakes. Undefeated until 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic. 
 Capt. Candyman Can: In 2008, won Iroquois Stakes (Churchill Downs). In 2009, won King's Bishop Stakes, Hutcheson Stakes, Bay Shore Stakes, Matt Winn Stakes. 
 Misremembered: In 2009, won Los Alamitos Derby and Indiana Derby. In 2010, won Santa Anita Handicap.
 Twirling Candy: In 2010, won Malibu Stakes, Del Mar Derby, Oceanside Stakes. In 2011, won Strub Stakes. 
 Sidney's Candy: In 2010, won Santa Anita Derby, San Vicente Stakes, San Felipe Stakes, La Jolla Handicap, Sir Beaufort Stakes. 
 Mastery: In 2016, won Los Alamitos Futurity. In 2017, won San Felipe Stakes. Undefeated. 
 Paid Up Subscriber: In 2016, won Fleur de Lis Handicap. 
 Clubhouse Ride: In 2013, won Californian Stakes. In 2014, won Californian Stakes. 
 Kettle Corn: In 2011, won Native Diver Handicap. In 2013, won San Diego Handicap. 
 Unified: In 2016, won Peter Pan Stakes and Bay Shore Stakes. In 2017, won Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship. 
 Ascend: In 2017, won Manhattan Stakes. 
 Candy Boy: In 2014, won Robert B. Lewis Stakes. 
 Ollie’s Candy: In 2019, won Clement L. Hirsch Stakes
 Game Winner: In 2018 won Del Mar Futurity, American Pharoah Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Candy Ride's 2020 fee is set at $100,000.

Pedigree

See also
 List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses

References

 Candy Ride's pedigree and partial racing stats
August 27, 2003 Thoroughbred Times article on Candy Ride
Video at YouTube of Candy Ride winning the 2003 Pacific Classic Stakes
Candy Ride at Hill 'n' Dale Farms

Category:1999 racehorse births
Category:Racehorses bred in Argentina
Category:Racehorses trained in Argentina
Category:Racehorses trained in the United States
Category:Undefeated racehorses
Category:Thoroughbred family 13-c