In 2016, we (Woodford Racing) owned a horse named Leofric who was a son of the successful sire Candy Ride. While Leofric did not run as a 2 year old, he came in third once and fourth twice as a 3 year old. A decision was made to sell him in the Keeneland November Sale in 2016 and move on.
After selling him, Leofric blossomed as a racehorse, winning eight times with earnings of almost a million dollars. Three of his eight wins were graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, Grade 2 Hagyard Fayette Stakes and Grade 3 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes.
After being retired in 2018, Leofric became a stallion in New York. One of his first foals was a New York Bred colt named Canigetaloan. Canigetaloan began his racing career this summer at Saratoga Racecourse as a two year old, running second in a Maiden Special Race on August 11. After the race, I approached the owners of Canigetaloan about buying a percentage of him. My thinking at the time was his first race was impressive and Leofric was a new stallion with a very good race record.
Canigetaloan was entered earlier this week in the $100,000 Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes Racetrack for his second start. While it’s unusual to enter a maiden (yet to win a race) in a stakes race, the trainer of Canigetaloan (Jeremiah Englehart) liked the way he had been training. While the field for the Aspirant Stakes was small (six horses), it included two horses who had won impressively at Saratoga in August. One was trained by Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert and the other was the horse trained by Hall of Fame Trainer Todd Pletcher that beat Canigetaloan.
As the starting gate opened for the Aspirant Stakes, Canigetaloan stalked the early leaders and saved ground along the rail. With the field approaching the top of the stretch, Canigetaloan’s jockey Kendrick Carmouche looked to get off the rail but lacked an opening. Fortunately, a hole opened and Canigetaloan accelerated through it to win by a head.
Canigetaloan (rail) winning Aspirant Stakes Photo Credit: SV Photography
While I may not have benefited from Leofric’s success, I may have an opportunity to benefit from one of his son’s. Canigetaloan is Leofric’s first stakes winner as a stallion!
True Nicks article on Aspirant Stakes