A year has made a big difference for Rock Hard Candy.
Although he’s been close in several outings, the Indiana sired gelding could never quite get the win in the bigger events. This year has already seen a change in Rock Hard Candy as he is now a stakes winner for his connections, earning the title in the 10th running of the Born Runner Classic Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville.
Starting from post two, Rock Hard Candy was out quickly to take control of the 400-yard dash. Stablemate Beach Blast was also in good position early for Juan Marquez, but Rock Hard Candy seemed to have the advantage most of the way. With German Rodriguez aboard, Rock Hard Candy extended his lead in the final strides, picking up the win by one length over favored Beach Blast on the outside.
Jess A Flyin Beach and Jose Beltran finished third.
Rock Hard Candy paid $21.40 for the win. It was one of five wins on the card for trainer Randy Smith, Indiana’s all-time leading Quarter Horse trainer. The Escondido Beach five-year-old scored his first win of 2022 in his second start. Owned by breeders Lance and Tammy Finlinson, it just took a little time and patience to get him to stakes winner status.
“He never would run over 300 yards last year, so we had decided to sell him,” said Lance Finlinson, who has a long history of stakes winners, including last year’s standout Valiantinecandyrocks from their foundation mare Jesses Candy. “I talked with Randy (Smith) and he said we should take him down to the Caesars Entertainment Equine Hospital and have his knees looked at. Sure enough. He had a chip in one. I told Randy if he’s take care of getting the surgery and rehabbing him, we’d keep him, and that is what we did. Randy deserves all the credit for this horse.”
Known as “Jo” around the Smith barn, Rock Hard Candy also had the backing of jockey German Rodriguez, who works for the Smith Stable. Rodriguez identified early on this was a horse he wanted to stay connected with.
“I told Randy early on I wanted to ride ‘Jo’ because I thought he was one of the best in the stable,” said Rodriguez, who rode four of Smith’s winners on the day. “He has been great in all of his works. I thought if we had good luck, we could get this win today, and we did.”
Rodriguez noted that he kept on Smith to let him ride “Jo” and the persistence paid off. He knew what he had from the start.
“We broke on the lead,” said Rodriguez. “I hit him two times because I knew they would be coming at us, and he really took off. He never let up.”
Rock Hard Candy received his nickname form the Finlinsons. He was born on Tammy’s mother’s birthday. Her name is Judy O’Neal, so the striking gelding inherited the nickname “Jo” for Judy’s initials.
Judy’s namesake now has more than $118,000 on his card with his first career stakes win. He joins a long list of foals out of Jesses Candy, 2021 Broodmare of the Year in Indiana, with the same status, including Rockys Candy Shop and last year’s Indiana bred Horse of the Year Valiantinecandyrocks, who won four of five starts, all stakes races.
