DEL MAR DERBY

Candy gives Del Mar Derby a twirl
Elevated to Grade 1 status this year, Sunday's $300,000 Del Mar Derby won't feature much depth, but it does have a potential turf star in TWIRLING CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]). Unbeaten in three career starts for John Sadler, the dark bay colt exits a dominant score in his stakes debut, the opening-day Oceanside S., and towers over a field of six sophomores in the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Derby.
A debut winner over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track last November, Twirling Candy ran away from his opposition when opening 2010 at the same venue, recording a 7 3/4-length victory over allowance/optional claiming rivals in late May. He was very impressive in his turf and two-turn bow, winning the one-mile Oceanside in hand by 2 1/4 lengths, and once again earned commendable BRIS numbers.
The Craig Family Trust homebred has trained forwardly in advance of the Del Mar Derby, recording three bullets from five workouts in the 46-day interim since the Oceanside, and drilled six panels in 1:11 last Saturday. Joel Rosario retains the mount.
Twirling Candy's rivals will receive no weight concessions, as all runners carry 122 pounds.
La Jolla H. (G2) runner-up KID EDWARD (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) rates the best chance at upsetting the likely odd-on favorite. The James Cassidy pupil returned from a lengthy layoff with a nice tally over allowance/optional claiming rivals at Del Mar, his first start against winners, and made up a lot of ground in the stretch of the La Jolla. He's eligible to improve off his first stakes attempt and keeps David Flores in the saddle.
SUMMER MOVIE (Holy Bull) finished a close third in the Swaps (G2) two starts back and exits a fast-closing fourth in the La Jolla, registering a 105 BRIS Late Pace rating. The Art Sherman trainee figures to be closer to a moderate pace on Sunday with Victor Espinoza.
ROYAL F J (Royal Academy), who improved his Del Mar mark to 2-1-1-0 when breaking his maiden last out in his 11th career start, will face a steep class check in the Del Mar Derby, and longshots JAIRZIHNO (GB) and FANTASTIC PICK (GB) (Fantastic Light) round out the field.
Del Mar will also offer the $100,000 Torrey Pines S. and $75,000 Adoration S. on Sunday's program. SWITCH (Quiet American), who defeated Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) when winning the Hollywood Oaks (G2) two starts back, tops a field of 10 sophomore fillies in the one-mile Torrey Pines. The bay filly didn't fire her best shot when trying the turf in the San Clemente H. (G2) last time, but she's eligible to rebound over the Polytrack. The Carla Gaines-trained MALIBU PIER (Malibu Moon), who will bring a two-for-two mark into her stakes debut, and last-out Sandy Blue H. victress WARREN'S JITTERBURG (Affirmative) are also entered.
In the one-mile Adoration, Royal Heroine Mile (G2) runner-up BURG BERG (Johannesburg) looms as the one to catch among seven rivals.