For Immediate Release
Lael Stables’ Taking Candy (Twirling Candy-Taking Aim, by Trappe Shot) was one of three Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company graduates to earn their first stakes victories this past weekend when he captured the $175,000 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 15.
(Hodges Photography/Amanda Hodges Weir)
The son of Twirling Candy notched his first graded stakes win in nine career starts when he finished one length ahead of runner-up Higgins Boat. Taking Candy was purchased by Lael Stable for $400,000 at the 2022 OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training from the consignment of Eddie Woods after breezing in :10 flat. (Under Tack Video)
At Santa Anita Park, Rancho Temescal LLC, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr.’s Roll On Big Joe (Prospective – Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop) also collected his first graded win when he led every point of call to prevail by four lengths in the $100,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) Feb. 15. The son of Prospective was purchased by Rancho Temescal for $90,000 at the 2022 OBS June sale from the Gayle Woods consignment after breezing in :10 flat. (Under Tack Video)
On Feb. 16, Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran’s Scipio (Caravaggio – Soul Spirit, by Quality Road) earned his first stakes win with a 1 ½-length victory in the $100,000 Baffle Stakes on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course. Consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales, Scipio was purchased for $60,000 by Richard Baltas out of the 2024 OBS March sale after breezing in :10.2.