Sidney's Candy, the Santa Anita Derby winner who finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby, makes his return to the races Saturday in the Grade II $200,000 Swaps Stakes. The 1 1/8-mile race is the highlight of the final weekend of racing at the Hollywood Park summer meeting.
Trainer John Sadler never took the 3-year-old son of Candy Ride out of training after his disappointing effort at Churchill Downs, but he backed off a bit while letting the horse recover.
"It was a big stress on him," Sadler said.
Sadler attributed Sidney's Candy Kentucky Derby effort to a combination of a poor post position — No. 20 — a muddy track and a quick pace.
Only three horses are expected to challenge Sidney's Candy. They are Skipshot, Alphie's Bet and Summer Movie, the second- through fourth-place finishers in the 1 1/16-mile Affirmed Handicap on June 19 at Hollywood Park.
Sidney's Candy has been put through a series of workouts to prepare him for the championship 3-year-old race of the Hollywood Park meeting. Jockey Joe Talamo has the mount.
