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Twirling Candy, Caracortado get down to business with Pacific Classic moves

Twirling Candy had to concede weight in the Gold Cup, but will meet his rivals at level weights in the Pacific Classic (Benoit Photos) TWIRLING CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) and CARACORTADO (Cat Dreams), candidates for the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) on August 28, had major workouts for the big race Sunday morning over Del Mar's Polytrack. Twirling Candy, already a Grade 1 winner and potentially the Pacific Classic favorite, drilled seven furlongs in 1:25 1/5 under Joel Rosario, who made it back from Chicago -- and several Arlington Million Day assignments -- for the work. In what Rosario's agent, Ron Ebanks, termed a "fabulous" work, Twirling Candy spotted Caitie's Secret (Benchmark) a few lengths and passed his stablemate in the stretch. Caitie's Secret was clocked in 1:27. The work was the fourth at Del Mar, at successively longer distances one week apart. It started with a :47 4/5 half mile on July 24 and continued through :59 3/5 and 1:11 3/5 clockings leading up to Sunday's work.

Twirling Candy will be looking for his third win this year in the Pacific Classic, having captured the Strub S. (G2) and Californian S. (G2) while most recently placing a neck third in the Hollywood Gold Cup H. (G1).

Caracortado, third to Acclamation (Unusual Heat) in the July 23 Eddie Read S. (G1) on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, sped six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 under Joe Talamo.

"He worked really well and finished up strong," trainer Mike Machowsky said. "I had him in :22 2/5 the last quarter. He galloped out in :24 2/5 for a mile in 1:37."

Caracortado hadn't been given a serious work at the distance over the Polytrack previously. The Grade 2 victor went five furlongs in :59 3/5 a week before the Eddie Read and was sent out for an easy half-mile in :48 a week ago.

"I wanted a pretty good work and for him to finish well today," Machowsky said. "I'll breeze him next Sunday and he'll be good to go."

Two other Pacific Classic hopefuls also worked Sunday at Del Mar.

Dual Grade 2 scorer JERANIMO (Congaree), who had a half-length to spare on Caracortado when second in the Eddie Read, turned three-quarters in 1:12 2/5.

Grade 2-placed VICTORY PETE (Five Star Day), who was third by a neck in the Wickerr S. and filled that same spot in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. (G3) in his past two, clocked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5.

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