At racetracks, close calls are common, even off the track. Consider Candy Quest, who enters Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Endeavor Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs as the morning line favorite with odds of 3-1. Two summers ago, trainer Mark Kass purchased Candy Quest, then an unraced yearling, for $225,000 at Saratoga. However, an unusual accident delayed her debut when she injured her leg by stepping on a nail in her stall’s webbed water. Despite the setback, Kass noted she has been very consistent since beginning her racing career.
The 4-year-old filly, who broke her maiden in her only 2-year-old start at Belmont on October 3, 2024, has compiled a strong record of nine starts, with three wins and three seconds. She secured a notable victory in last July’s Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes at Woodbine and will carry top weight as she races in a field of 11 older mares with jockey Sonny Leon.
The Endeavor Stakes serves as the final race on the Turf Champions Day card, which kicks off at 12:25 p.m. Kass will also saddle Win for the Money, the morning line favorite (7-5) in the earlier Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes. This 7-year-old gelding, owned by Live Oak Plantation, is coming off a win in the Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile last September. Sonny Leon will also ride Win for the Money, who starts from post 6.
Following the recent weather-related postponement of the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Kass is shifting his focus entirely to Tampa Bay Downs. The rescheduled Southwest Stakes will take place on February 6, with Kass expected to run Strategic Risk and Silent Tactics there.
Candy Quest, who bested the Ontario Colleen winner but narrowly lost to Fionn by half a length in the Blackwood Duel Grounds Oaks Invitational at Kentucky Downs last September, recently finished fifth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. Fionn emerged victorious in the Grade 3 Jockey Club Oaks at Aqueduct in November, raising questions about Candy Quest’s ability to match her this time around. Kass remains confident, highlighting that Candy Quest, who has primarily raced against top 3-year-olds, is ready to compete in a tougher field despite moving into open company.
Here is the full Endeavor Stakes lineup by post position, along with jockeys, trainers, and morning odds:
- Candy Quest, Sonny Leon, Mark Kass, 3-1
- Dreaming of Abba, Antonio Gallardo, Kathleen O’Connell, 20-1
- Scythia, Daniel Centeno, Bill Mott, 15-1
- Al Jafara, Sammy Camacho, Chad Brown, 9-2
- Aussie Girl, Ben Curtis, Will Walden, 7-2
- Madam Mischief, David Egan, Jorge Delgado, 15-1
- Belle of Lights, Samuel Marin, Claude McGaughey III, 10-1
- Charlie’s Wish, Rafael Hernandez, David Foulkes, 15-1
- I Love You Anyway, Rajiv Mallah, George Arnold II, 8-1
- Starship Impulsive, Jesus Castanon, M. Anthony Ferraro, 20-1
- Public Defenders, Pablo Morales, Safie A. Joseph Jr., 5-1
In the Tampa Bay Stakes, Win for the Money seeks his first victory since the Woodbine Mile. Recent third-place finishes in the Grade 3 Kelso Stakes and the FanDuel Forster Dave Stakes, both at Saratoga, showed promise, and his December return at Gulfstream was solid, finishing just behind a career-best runner. Kass believes if Win for the Money gets a favorable pace and travels well, he’ll be a strong contender in this competitive race.
The Tampa Bay Stakes field is as follows:
- Simulated, Daniel Centeno, Bill Mott, 6-1
- Innate Goodness, Jose Ferrer, Nick Goodwin, 30-1
- Quattrocento, Julian Leparoux, Fausto Gutierrez, 5-2
- Discrete Dancer, David Egan, Antonio Sano, 20-1
- Spellcast, Cipriano Gil, Tim Hamm, 15-1
- Win for the Money, Sonny Leon, Mark Kass, 7-5
- Tom’s Magic, Rafael Hernandez, Michael Stidham, 3-1
- Britain’s Kitten, Israel Rodriguez, Kevin Rice, 20-1
This report was originally published by Paulick Report on January 30, 2026.
Fan Take: This preview highlights two exciting horses poised to impact the Florida turf scene—Candy Quest, stepping up into tougher competition, and Win for the Money, aiming to recapture his top form. Their performances could signal shifting dynamics in turf racing and provide fans thrilling contests to watch as talented horses move between levels and prove themselves against top competition.
