We were using my I-Pad to see Candy‘s first race on Sunday. We were watching from the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, where our grandson, Josiah, just finished his 2nd birthday party. I didn’t think that Linda thought Candy had much of a chance, until she said the competition was weak. The NYRA site was sending a an HD picture. She looked great in the paddock and parading on the track.

When they tried to load her into the gate, she balked. So, they opened the front of the gate and they got her to go in and, then, they closed the front of the gate. She was in post position 8 wearing the number 7. The bell rang, the gate opened and the number 6 horse directly to her inside bumped her and pushed her 10 feet to the outside. We couldn’t tell that from the “pan” view we were watching. All we saw was what appeared to be Jose Ortiz trying to take her up front and failing. Instead, she fell back to last.

All we heard for much of the race was, “…and Candy for Kisses is the trailer!” Not very encouraging. When they turned for home and she was still last, Rhoda put her hand on me and said, “Not today.” Jose seemed to be asking her to run but was not making up much ground. My phone rang. Then, she started to move with about 3/16 of a mile left. Jose saw a hole open between horses and he went for it. The hole started to close as the horse to his outside drifted in. They came together. For a moment, neither was making much headway but Jose got her through and off they went. By the 1/16th pole, she was showing a speedy “turn of foot” that had her overtaking the leaders. Would she get there in time?

The heavy favorite, Classy Chris, was also moving to her inside… but I already knew the result. The I-Pad is transmission is somewhat delayed from the live transmission. It was our partner, Jim, on the line. “Holy S___!” he yelled. Another winner!” Yes, Candy for Kisses‘s incredible “turn of foot” took her past everyone and left the odds-on favorite 3/4 length behind.

Our incredible run of good luck continues. After over two years without a single winner, we have had five wins at Belmont and one at Presque Isle Downs. Unfortunately, we weren’t in the Winner’s Circle with Candy for Kisses, Linda and her assistant, Marcia, but we were in a kind of Winner’s Circle. See below!