Navajo Warrior, yet another son of Candy Ride making noise, captured the Pimlico Special Stakes
- Turf Diario
- May 16
- 3 min read
Once a claiming horse, he has flourished in route races and added at Laurel Park his eighth victory from his last 10 starts
LAUREL PARK, Maryland (Special to Turf Diario).- The influence of Candy Ride continues spreading across the racing world as an unmistakable stamp of quality, and Friday at Laurel Park offered yet another reminder as Navajo Warrior confirmed his meteoric rise by capturing the Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) and opening the door to even more ambitious dreams.
Because the dark bay trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. is no longer simply that modest claiming horse struggling to find his place in California. He is now an ascending graded stakes performer, capable of controlling a Grade 3 from the front end and turning back every challenge in the decisive stages.
And his trainer is already thinking big.
“This was the main target for this part of the season, but there are a lot of goals ahead,” Joseph said after the victory. “He’s a gelding, so we can think about next year. The dream could be the Saudi Cup because it’s a mile and an eighth around one turn. Even finishing fifth there gets you a million dollars. There are a lot of reasons to try.”
The statement hardly seems exaggerated considering Navajo Warrior’s current form.
The son of Candy Ride earned his eighth victory in his last 10 starts and his fifth win from seven outings since joining Joseph’s barn.
The race also represented a significant challenge. Not only was it his graded stakes debut, but it also came at the longest distance of his career: 1900 meters, the same trip the Preakness Stakes (G1) would be contested over Saturday at Laurel.
With Flavien Prat aboard for the first time, Navajo Warrior broke sharply, and the French rider quickly decided to capitalize on the tactical advantage.
“There didn’t seem to be a lot of speed in the race,” Prat explained. “I wanted to break clean and see what everybody else did. He left there really well and just found himself in front. After that, he basically did the rest on his own.”
The son of Candy Ride carved out comfortable fractions of :48.40 for the half-mile and 1:12.43 for six furlongs while always under mild pressure from defending champion Awesome Aaron (Practical Joke).
When that rival attempted a serious bid entering the far turn, Navajo Warrior simply found another gear.
And although Maclean’s Rook (Maclean’s Music) launched a dangerous rally from the back of the pack, the favorite still had enough left to re-break in the final furlong and cross the wire 2 3/4 lengths clear, completing the distance in 1:56.61 over a fast track.
Maclean’s Rook earned the best stakes placing of his career by finishing second, while San Siro (Classic Empire) once again rounded out the trifecta in a Grade 3 for the third consecutive time.
Navajo Warrior’s progression has been truly remarkable.
Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, the son of Candy Ride out of Crosswinds, by Storm Cat—the perfect nick—had managed only a maiden claiming victory at Del Mar back in October of 2024 while still racing for trainer Tim Yakteen.
Then came three consecutive victories at Santa Anita, a private sale, and the subsequent transfer to Joseph’s stable, where the horse completely exploded.
“I think he’s got desire, a lot of desire,” Joseph summarized. “Early on he didn’t show that much, but once he started getting fit, he never looked back.”
The pedigree offers no surprises either.
His dam also produced Grade 1 winner Weep No More (Mineshaft) and stakes-placed Current (Curlin), while his second dam is none other than Flute (Seattle Slew), heroine of both the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and the Alabama Stakes (G1) in 2001.
Now, at five years old and in the best form of his life, Navajo Warrior appears finally to have found his true place.
Another son of the incomparable Argentine superstar Candy Ride is once again reminding the world why his influence remains so enormous.
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