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Before the San Felipe at Santa Anita, Sidney’s Candy was an after-thought on the odds board. In preparation for the race, trainer John Sadler and jockey Joe Talamo knew they had an exceptional horse with remarkable speed. And the colt proved his potential, as Sidney’s Candy went coast-to-coast in a half-length victory over the favorite, Interactif.

Sadler’s game plan was simple: get the lead, pace yourself and then put it into overdrive when the field pulls even. Talamo is very confident in his horse’s ability, and the 20-year old wasn’t at all surprise by Sidney’s Candy time of 1:42.30 for a mile and sixteenth on the synthetic track. It was his third win in five starts this year.

The question now remains is how the three-year old will fare against better competition. Sidney’s Candy is a free-wheeling horse, who at times can run out of control. Sadler’s tentative plans are to race the colt in the Santa Anita Derby on April 3rd. He needs the graded earnings to gain easy entrance into the Derby. But his main concern could be seeing how his horse will handle the pressure of a major race before heading to Churchill Downs.

On a side note, Talamo is returning to the Derby after having a disappointing time last year, as his mount, I Want Revenge, was scratched with a leg injury on the morning of the big race. Sadler is closing in on 1400 career wins and approximately $50 million in career earnings, but the elusive title of Kentucky Derby winning trainer has slipped through his hands time-after-time. He began his career training horses at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and Sadler continues to make strides in his career with the hope of one day winning one of the prestigious races in the sport.