Dalmore beats Danzing Candy to win Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita

ARCADIA >> Fans leaned against the waist-high lattice fence lining the track at Santa Anita Park with race programs tucked beneath their arms. “Danzing Candy” were the only two words you could pluck out from the flurry of cheers that lasted the length of the 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Affirmed Stakes.

It was the sound of hopeful bettors who placed their money on 1-5 favorite Danzing Candy, but it was Dalmore who prevailed by a half-length for the $60,000 first-place prize in his first graded victory and third win in 11 career starts.

Dalmore, the 7-2 second choice, paid $9.20, $2.60 and $2.10. Danzing Candy, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, retued $2.10 and $2.10. Prince Arabia was another eight lengths back in third.

“To me, I knew we had (Danzing Candy),” said wiing jockey Kent Desormeaux. “It was a very explosive effort by Dalmore.”

While Desormeaux had the confidence, it wasn’t quite as clear Dalmore had the advantage until the sixteenth pole when he began to make his move before beating Danzing Candy, who entered the stretch with an 8 1/2-length lead.

“He got into a dogfight with Danzing Candy,” said Kent’s brother and Dalmore’s trainer Keith Desormeaux, who also trained 2016 Preakness Stakes champion Exaggerator. “It’s not like he drew away. Danzing Candy ran a helluva race.”

Danzing Candy was making his debut with trainer Bob Baffert. The 3-year-old had been transferred from his former trainer, Cliff Sise, by his owners following disappointing showings in the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby.

The dark bay colt had shown promise in March’s Grade II San Felipe Stakes, beating Exaggerator. But it was his 15th-place finish at Churchill Downs that landed him with Baffert. Danzing Candy, however, couldn’t deliver for his new trainer.

“Well, he was rating pretty good, but (pacesetter) Beaumarchais was just going so fast,” Baffert said. “When I saw that second quarter in 46 (seconds), I thought, ‘Oh man.’ Dalmore is a good horse.”

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