Success brings upgrade for upstart racehorse Ollie’s Candy

Romping wins in her first two starts sprinting this spring at Golden Gate Fields earned Ollie’s Candy a graduation to the Southern California division of trainer William E. Morey’s stable.

Then the 3-year-old filly matriculated into a Grade 2 winner with a hard-fought victory by a neck going 11/16 miles in the $200,345 Summertime Oaks on June 16 at Santa Anita.

“I think she’s the best young horse I’ve had,” Morey said by phone from his barn at Del Mar. “She’s a Grade 2 winner in her third start.”

Morey will throw another challenge at Ollie’s Candy on Saturday when she runs on grass for the first time in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Clemente Stakes.