Vazquez, who returned to Oaklawn this season after previously being based in Southern California in the winter, was riding Valentine Candy for the first time. Valentine Candy’s winning time for 5 ½ furlongs over a fast track was 1:04.65. Andy’s Candy, a head farther back in third, was followed, in order, by Market Street, Molly’s Town, General Shipman, Frost Free, Ceepeegee, Bye Bye Liam, Drewmania and Sweet Soddy J. Willy D’s, a 67-1 shot, rallied to finish second. “The field that he beat at Saratoga first time out – showed great quality that day. “I’m just very, if anything, relieved to see him run back to his first race,” Asmussen said. Valentine Candy, a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, won for the first time since going gate-to-wire in his July 22 debut at Saratoga.
The 9-5 favorite, Valentine Candy ($5.60) represented the second victory on the card for jockey Ramon Vazquez and the record-extending 105 th career Oaklawn stakes victory for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. 8, 2023) – Valentine Candy took command turning for home and powered to a 6 ¾-length victory in the $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters before an estimated season-opening crowd of 14,500 Friday at Oaklawn. Contact: Chris Ho, Vice President of Marketing, 50 ext.
