A Sensational Debut
Right from the opening bell, the 1-5 favorite attracted heavy wagering attention, sparking whispers among onlookers that compared the horse to racing legends. While such a comparison was clearly in jest, the young filly from Pocket Aces Racing—Twirling Aces (Twirling Candy)—certainly drew attention for all the right reasons. Her performance in a two-week-old workout had set tongues wagging, and by the time the gates opened on June 3, there was no hiding her potential. The betting frenzy, though intense, was almost expected for a horse with such promise.
Twirling Aces drifted up to even money, but her victory was anything but a close call. From the start, the filly found herself boxed in, forced to stay tight along the rail for much of the race. In the stretch, Jockey Tyler Gaffalione made a bold move, asking her to swing wide into the final turn. What followed was a display of raw talent and heart as she surged ahead and pulled away with ease. According to Gaffalione, Twirling Aces was already in command by the time the race reached the sixteenth pole. Her dominance was clear and immediate, a sign of what could be a bright future in the sport.
For Marc Wampler, co-managing partner of Pocket Aces Racing, the win was more than just a triumph; it was a balm for anxiety. He described the primary emotion as relief, something all favorites experience when the pressure is off their back. “There's no tougher position to be in than as the overwhelming favorite,” he said. “If you lose, the disappointment hits hard. So when Twirling Aces won, it felt like a sigh of relief.” Along with the relief came pride and a deep sense of accomplishment for the team. The win wasn’t just a result of talent, but of careful planning, patience, and trust in the horse’s potential.
Twirling Aces wasn’t always a sure standout. She joined trainer Brendan Walsh in mid-2025 and began with a series of training works that caught the attention of many. However, by the end of July that year, her progress came to a halt. Wampler explained that it was simply her body signaling that she needed more time to develop—a common scenario in thoroughbred racing. Many horses require rest and additional time to mature before they can perform at their best. Wampler, who has been through similar situations before, knows firsthand the challenges of patience. “It’s easier said than done,” he admitted. “But when you’re patient with a horse, it often pays off handsomely.”
Pocket Aces Racing, as a stable, prides itself on finding value in horses. Wampler explained that their goal is to identify racing prospects at affordable prices, regardless of the horse’s sex, preferred distance, or surface. While pedigree is a useful guide for determining what to pay, it is not the only factor in their decision-making process. “We look for horses that show the potential to be runners,” he said. “Whether they end up on the dirt, turf, or somewhere in between, we're willing to give them a shot.” As an example, Wampler pointed to past successes like Temple City Terror. The horse was originally bought for $22,000 at the Keeneland September sale in 2017 and later sold for $600,000 in 2022. Another notable find was Irish Aces, who went from a $5,000 weanling to a $40,000 yearling and eventually raced under the Pocket Aces Racing colors. The stable’s approach, Wampler argued, allows for a wider range of opportunities in the sport.
Information Age and Racing
The way information spreads in the racing world has changed dramatically, according to Wampler. In the past, word of mouth and grapevine tips were the go-to sources for gaining an edge in wagering. These days, the internet has become a goldmine of data, making it impossible to keep secrets, especially on the backside of racetracks. Work videos, clocker reports, and debut figures are readily available online, which means if a horse is worth talking about, the word will spread fast. Wampler recalled how, when Twirling Aces was heavily bet ahead of her debut, he realized just how much the spread of information had evolved. “Secrets don’t last,” he said, “especially when you’ve got a good one.”
Despite the pressure of being the favorite, Twirling Aces showed her true colors under trainer Brendan Walsh last year. She was beginning to show signs of being a real standout, and her debut performance only reinforced that belief. Wampler was quick to point out that the early signs were clear—when Walsh started leaning on her in training, it became evident that she had the tools to become a formidable force in racing. “She’s got all the makings of a top runner,” he said. “Now it’s just a matter of time before we see how far she can go.”