BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Last of 10 with more than five lengths make up in deep stretch, Florida-bred Candycrumbs suddenly accelerated on the far outside to dramatically win the $150,000 Hickory Tree by a length-and-a-half at Colonial Downs Saturday.
With jockey Trevor McCarthy aboard, Candycrumbs won for the first time in two starts after finishing second to Global Legend in a four-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds on a sloppy Gulfstream Park track on June 8.
Shuffled back at the start of the six-furlong Hickory Tree, Candycrumbs was far back in the run towards the far turn as Dadsnumbronehelpr and Re Markably rattled off a :22.05 first quarter mile while prompted by Summerinthecountry in third on the outside. Dadsnumbronehelpr hit the top of the stretch a length in front of Re Markably in second with Candycrumbs still last as Tap That Magic entered the fray with a late run in the middle of the track.
But Candycrumbs shot to the front inside the sixteenth marker to win in 1:03.64 on the fast track. Do It for Michael was second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Re Markably in third. They were followed in order by Tap That Magic, Dadsnumbronehelpr, This Juice B Loose, Tojo’s Mojo, Audible the Paly, Happyflyer and Summerinthecountry. Brewmaster and Stormy Flight were scratched.
Candycrumbs paid $14.
Candycrumbs is trained by owner Mary Lightner, who also bred the colt in the name of her Shooting Star Thoroughbreds. Candycrumbs is by Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister out of the Crumb, by Graeme Hall and has now earned $68,800 from his two races.
Candycrumbs is one of three winners from six starters for Crumb, and is her first stakes winner. Crumb has also produced stakes-placed Florida-bred Dreamster, by Jess’s Dream and has an unnamed weanling colt by Chance It, who stood the 2024 breeding season at Journeyman Stud.
