Hit Show, the son of Candy Ride for whom time seems to stand still
- Turf Diario
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
The gray scored in the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds and will now head to Meydan to defend his title in the Dubai World Cup (G1) against Forever Young
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (Special to Turf Diario).– On a weekend where the global racing world began to focus on the season’s major international commitments, the gray Hit Show once again proved that his heart is as big as his pedigree. The son of the Argentine superstar Candy Ride took the necessary step in his preparation for the Dubai World Cup (G1) by capturing the Mineshaft Stakes (G3), contested over 1,700 meters on the Fair Grounds dirt, under a perfectly timed ride by Florent Geroux.
It was not a victory won with ease, but rather one that forges the temper of a champion. The Brad Cox trainee, who carries the colors of Wathnan Racing, had to dig deep to break the resistance of a very tough Accelerize (Omaha Beach), who set the pace with fractions of :23.53, :47.04, and 1:11.10. Hit Show traveled within striking distance throughout, sitting third or fourth, never losing sight of the leader. Upon entering the stretch, the descendant of grade-stakes winner Actress (by Tapit) launched his bid, but Accelerize would not go down easily, forcing the winner into a head-to-head battle until the final breath.
Ultimately, the wire showed a small but decisive neck advantage for Hit Show, stopping the clock in 1:42.49. "He’s a warrior," Geroux declared after the contest, summarizing in one phrase the essence of a horse that now boasts 12 victories from 24 starts and has surpassed the $9 million mark in earnings. The class of the Lane's End stallion, the incomparable Candy Ride, is manifested once again in this iron horse that seems unaffected by the passage of time at 6 years old.
For Hit Show, this victory is much more than a graded trophy in Louisiana; it is the final exam passed before shipping to Meydan. The goal is ambitious: to achieve a repeat in the Dubai World Cup (G1), the $12 million race he brilliantly conquered in 2025. However, this year’s challenge appears even more demanding, as the phenomenal Forever Young(Real Steel) looms on the horizon. The Japanese standout promises to be the primary obstacle on his path to eternal glory, even though Hit Show already managed to defeat him 12 months ago.
From the Brad Cox camp, assistant Ricky Giannini did not hide the excitement: "It’s fun to have horses that compete in G1s all over the world. He is the defending champion in Dubai, and we hope to have a little luck to repeat the feat before thinking about the Breeders' Cup."
The course is set. The heir to the Argentine blood of Candy Ride has already shown he is ready for battle. On March 28, in the desert, Hit Show will seek to write a new golden chapter, attempting to defend his crown against the best on the planet.
