Danzing Candy strolls in Lone Star Park H. (G3)

Danzing Candy and jockey Mike Smith made the $200,000 Lone Star Park H. (G3) look easy with a 4 3/4-length victory in the Texas track’s signature race for older horses.

The somewhat star-crossed 4-year-old has come back into excellent form since returning from a eight-month hiatus in early March, with a solid effort on Santa Anita’s downhill turf course and then earning a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure on May 5, his most recent start prior to Sunday’s outing.

Smith wasted little time taking the fight to his foes, quickly opening up by three lengths in the first quarter mile. From there, he was little more than a passenger as Danzing Candy opened up his lead without urging in the stretch while completing the 1 1/16-miles on a muddy racetrack in 1:43.01 (VIDEO).

“There was a whole lot to him today,” said Smith of the colt’s powerhouse performance.

Danzing Candy gave Bob Baffert a record third training win in the Lone Star feature, the first since Bob and John accomplished the feat in 2007. Congaree took the race in 2002.  

Winner of the San Felipe S. (G2) last year, Danzing Candy is now 5-1-1 in 10 starts and has earned $550,930 for owners Halo Farms and Jim and Dianne Bashor.