SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The gates opened for Saturday’s $175,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga and in an instant the complexion of the Grade 3 race for 2-year-olds changed completely after the 1-5 Gold Sweep stumbled badly and suddenly found himself last less than 100 yards into the race.  The unexpected turn of events opening the door for Yo Yo Candy, the 46-1 outsider rallying to a stunning 2 1/4-length victory over the unlucky favorite who did well to finish second following the poor start. Yo Yo Candy had finished a distant third, more than 10 lengths behind Gold Sweep, when they met for the first time five weeks ago in the Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park. Yo Yo Candy lost ground steadily to the winner after failing to change leads and racing very greenly down the stretch. Trainer Daniel Velazquez opted to make an equipment change following the Tremont, putting a set of blinkers on Yo Yo Candy for the six-furlong Sanford. It was a decision that, along with Gold Sweep’s bad luck at the break, led to the startling reversal of fortune when they met again Saturday. :: Visit the Saratoga Handicapping Store for Past Performances, Clocker Reports, Picks, Betting Strategies, and more. With regular rider Angel Castillo aboard, Yo Yo Candy raced within easy striking distance of the early leaders Dickens and Market Street, who recovered quickly after also stumbling badly at the break. Yo Yo Candy fanned wide leaving the turn, switched leads right on cue on settling into the stretch, stuck his head in front of the tiring leaders before five furlongs and gradually edging away at the end. Gold Sweep remained unhurried in the run down the backstretch once he got his feet back under him after the unlucky beginning. He gradually began to improve his position upon entering the turn, came widest for the drive and did well to out-finish the others while never seriously menacing the winner.  Dickens weakened gradually through the final furlong but did well to hold on to finish third, less than a length behind Gold Sweep. Call the Cavalry, who finished fifth, was vanned off after the race. Yo Yo Candy, a California-bred son of Danzing Candy, is owned by Happy Tenth Stable. He completed the distance over a fast track in 1:11.83 seconds (71 Beyer Speed Figure) and paid $94.00 while giving Velazquez his first victory at Saratoga.  “We didn’t have the blinkers last time because he won first time and we were happy with that,” Velazquez said. “But he broke a little sluggish and I said he had more speed than that so we added the blinkers, took him back to the gate twice after the race, and I told Castillo if he’s as good as we think he is, he’s going to be competitive. No respect on the board but we were coming in knowing we did everything right coming into this race. I was very, very satisfied  watching him warm up out there. I knew he was ready to run.” Velazquez said he did take notice the favorite had come away poorly at the start. “I did see he (Gold Sweep) had broken badly and I knew while it didn’t take him out of the race, it did change the race completely,” Velazquez said. “I think that helped a little bit. Tactically he got the bad break but that’s racing luck. This is a dream come true. As a kid you wish to win races at Saratoga, and here I am.” Jose Ortiz said all was well in the gate with Gold Sweep prior to the start. “He was standing good, he popped out when the door opened and he went as fast as he could and I think that kind of made everything go wrong,” Jose Ortiz explained. “He stumbled badly and I tried to ride him with a lot of passion after that. He showed a lot of courage to run second, but it was a lot to do for him after what happened. I’m very proud of him, it was just very unlucky.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.