Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and jockey John Velazquez, who separately won Breeders' Cup races last week at Del Mar, resumed their graded stakes-winning ways Nov. 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack, teaming to upset the $175,000 Pebbles Stakes (G3T).
With Velazquez riding for Joseph aboard No Mo Candy, the 3-year-old Uncle Mo filly settled off leader Macanga in the mile turf race, took over in early stretch, and outlasted favored Oversubscribed for a 1 1/4-length victory in 1:34.84. The class-rising runner paid $38.40 to win as the biggest longshot in the race for 3-year-old fillies.
Velazquez, victorious on Straight No Chaser in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), won the Pebbles for the sixth time in his Hall of Fame career.
"I just wanted to get her settled as best I could and when I let her go out, she responded nicely," he said.
Way to Be Marie grabbed the show.
No Mo Candy, a bay bred by Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, becomes the first stakes winner for the Blame mare Sweet. No Mo Candy was a $80,000 purchase by Cayson Lane from her breeder's consignment to the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The Niall Brennan and Mike Ryan-owned filly is 3-for-4 for Joseph, whose Soul of an Angel won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) this past Saturday.
No Mo Candy is Uncle Mo's eighth graded stakes winner this year. The sire of grade 1 winners Adare Manor and Kingsbarns , Uncle Mo will stand at Ashford Stud next year for a $125,000 fee.
