DEL MAR, Calif. - Danzing Candy, who has been in peak form in recent months with stakes wins in California and Texas, was withdrawn from Saturday’s Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar because of a leg injury, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday. Co-owner Ted Aroney said in a statement released by Del Mar that Danzing Candy will be retired. Stud plans will be finalized later, Aroney said. The injury was detected after Danzing Candy galloped Friday. “He galloped today and was fine,” Baffert said. “At the end of cooling out, he was off. He’s got a hairline fracture in the sesamoid. “It was devastating news because he’s been doing so well. We’re pretty upset about the whole thing.” :: Save up to 55¢/card on PPs with a 5-pack Danzing Candy has won 6 of 11 starts and earned $700,930. A 4-year-old colt, Danzing Candy won the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap in Texas on May 28, and the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on July 1. Baffert said veterinarians were being consulted to determine whether Danzing Candy wound need surgery. “We’ll see what these guys think,” Baffert said. “It’s not life-threatening.” Danzing Candy would have been a strong favorite in a field of 11 in the $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs. The O’Brien Stakes has ramifications for the autumn meeting here. The winner receives a fees-paid berth for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 3. :: Get bonus PPs for Saturday's pick four at Canterbury Park KEY CONTENDERS Moe Candy, by Candy Ride Last 3 Beyers: 95-98-89 ** Moe Candy was a maiden at this time last year. This season, Moe Candy has been second or third in three graded stakes for sprinters in Arkansas and California. ** On July 29, Moe Candy was third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs here under jockey Victor Espinoza. Moe Candy raced wide when carried out on the turn by a riderless runner – the 2016 champion sprinter Drefong, no less, who unseated jockey Mike Smith moments after the start. “He took the worst of it as anyone the other day,” trainer John Sadler said. “He was fanned (wide) and Victor said he would have been closer.” Giant Expectations, by Frost Giant Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-89 ** The Pat O’Brien will be the stakes debut for Giant Expectations, who won consecutive starts at Belmont Park for New York-breds in late May and early June before finishing a game second in his Del Mar debut at a mile in an optional claimer July 19. Silent Bird, by Summer Bird Last 3 Beyers: 88-97-97 ** Summer Bird has not raced since finishing fourth behind Denman’s Call in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita in March. He was sidelined with an undisclosed injury following that race and has trained well for his comeback, according to trainer Mark Glatt. ** Last fall, Silent Bird won the Damascus Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita, the third win of a five-race winning streak that ended with the loss in the Triple Bend. Denman’s Call, by Northern Afleet Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-94 Denman’s Call has been comprehensively beaten in three starts since the Triple Bend, finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on May 6, 10th in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park on June 10, and sixth in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs here on July 29. Denman’s Call drew the outside post and is expected to race from off the pace.