Horse racing newsletter: The filly wins it

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we congratulate Swiss Skydiver for her win in the Preakness Stakes.

It was a heck of a horse race. After negotiating a slow opening quarter set by Thousand Words, Swiss Skydiver moved off the rail when Thousand Words started to slow and poked her head in front of Kentucky Derby winner Authentic and fought him off through a tough stretch drive and won by a neck. She ran the second fastest Preakness of all time.

Here’s a long version of the game story on the Preakness that appeared in The Times. Just click here.

So, let’s let some of the participants tell the story through their words. These were gathered by the notes team at Pimlico Race Course.

Trainer Kenny McPeek (Swiss Skydiver): “I’m just proud of [jockey] Robby [Albarado]. We had to call him in at the last minute. He did a great job. I’m really proud of him, her, [owner] Peter Callahan. I wish he were here. This is just a real honor to be around a horse like this. This is a special moment.

“It was a genius move by Robby coming up the fence. He saw a hole and went right at it. It felt like she took him there. If he waited, she would take him there. I think she should have won the [Kentucky] Oaks too. Maybe if we stay inside, we win that one too, but it is what it is. She’s just really neat to be around. Robby and I have had a great week. We’ve been getting on her, walking her together, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner together. This is a lifetime experience for both of us and we hope we’re back.”

Jockey Robby Albarado (Swiss Skydiver): “I had an opportunity, a split second, to take advantage of the rail because Johnny [Velasquez aboard Authentic] was sitting off the fence there. I made a conscious decision on the backside. ‘It’s give or take now. Do I make that move now or do I wait to see if they come back to me?’ She’s been doing extremely well. Kenny’s been doing a great job. I’ve been around her all week. I figure she knows where she’s at, she’s in her surroundings. I said let me try and make this Jerry Bailey move and win.”

Trainer Bob Baffert (Authentic, 2nd^, Thousand Words, 8th): “He got beat. He had the whole stretch to get by her. She ran a gallant race. He’s a free-running horse and likes to be on the lead. I saw he wasn’t on the lead and was struggling a little bit.”

“I thought I was going to be on the lead. [Velazquez] said that it didn’t work out and he was rating him today. He doesn’t like rating. He wants to go fast.”

“We had to get the lead. He runs better on the lead. He likes to be out there running fast. When I saw 24 [seconds] that’s really slow for him. That’s how he won the Derby, get him running. But [Velazquez] said when he went to pick it up he didn’t have it today. That’s why I like to come back in two weeks.”

(On Thousand Words) “He was right there in a good spot, but he’s a funny horse. He’s in and out.”

Jockey John Velazquez (Authentic, 2nd): “We had a good start, no trouble at all. In the first turn we got by Art Collector. By the backstretch, I tried to open up, but he just stood there and Swiss Skydiver came to him. I tried to get him rolling again, but he just stayed with that other horse from the half-mile pole to the wire.”

Trainer Jose D’Angelo (Jesus’ Team, 3rd): “I feel very excited and I’m proud of my team and their work with Jesus’ Team. He’s really improved every day. I am very sure that he is going to be a great horse in the United States. I’m very happy for the result in this race, the Preakness Stakes, one of the most important races for 3-year-olds in this amazing country.

“I don’t know really what our next race will be, but maybe the Breeders’ Cup, maybe go to Florida to prepare him for the Pegasus. The horse ran so good and he came back good to the barn.”

Jockey Jevian Toledo (Jesus’ Team, 3^rd): “He ran big. He’s a really nice horse. I got a really nice trip, I can’t complain. He gave me everything he had. We had no excuse. The other two horses were just much the best, but he was running all the way to the wire. It’s exciting, third in the Preakness. He’s a nice horse, a beautiful horse. He tries all the time.”

Trainer Tommy Drury (Art Collector, 4^th): “I thought he ran fine. He didn’t break quite as sharp as we hoped he would and that kind of had us playing catch-up a little bit. He was kind of in tight and it wasn’t the best trip. It’s not the trip we were hoping for. But we’ve got no excuse. The winner ran huge and we had our shot to get to them and just couldn’t do it.”

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. (Art Collector, 4^th): “It wasn’t the trip we were hoping for. We were kind of pinned in between horses the whole way. They jumped early, they moved early and we tried to go with them and we just weren’t able to. They sprinted on from about the three and a half on, and they never came back to us. You’ve got to be proud of the horse. Just to get to this level and for him to be fourth today, it was a big effort off of eight weeks. It wasn’t an ideal deal coming into this race off eight weeks, but it is what it is.”

Santa Anita review

Couple of stakes races on Saturday. Here’s what happened.

$70,000 Swingtime Stakes: It was a gate-to-wire performance as Cordiality, making her 33rd start, won the one-mile turf race for fillies and mares by three-quarters of a length. Cordiality paid $6.60, $3.80 and $2.80. Muchly was second, followed by Colonial Creed, Sedamar, Meal Ticket and Donut Girl.

Here’s what the winning connections had to say.

Tim Yakteen (winning trainer): “It makes it extra rewarding. She is just such a professional mare. I was so confident when she came down in the paddock and she was just so professional. I mean she’s a 7-year-old with just a bank load of races underneath her, it’s always nice when you give these horses time. She a great mare. The time was probably a little bit longer than we wanted to because of COVID-19, but I am just so happy for [owner] Donnie [Crevier].”

Drayden Van Dyke (winning jockey): “It looked like we were the only speed on paper and that’s the way it worked out. She broke sharp and we made the lead pretty easy. I was a little surprised when we came back and I saw those fractions, because it didn’t seem like we were going that fast. She was very comfortable the whole way. Speed’s her weapon and she carried it right to the wire.”

Grade 2 $200,000 City of Hope Stakes: This race was the same distance and surface as the Swingtime but it was for colts and geldings. And it turned out as a testimonial for how good Mo Forza can be. He ran near the back of the pack to start, moved up into contention on the far turn and breezed by everyone to win by 1 ¾ lengths. It looked effortless.

Mo Forza paid $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10. Sharp Samurai was second, followed by Bob and Jackie, Blitzkreig, Majestic Eagle, Royal Ship and Restrainedvengence.

Here’s what the winning connections have to say.

Ruben Alvarado (assistant to trainer Peter Miller): “That’s him. He showed that in his race at Del Mar. He relaxes early and then you saw the way he finished up. He ran today just like he did at Del Mar. We’re very happy and we’re looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup (Mile).

Flavien Prat (winning jockey): “He pretty much had the same trip as he did in the Del Mar Mile (Aug. 23). I think he’s getting more and more professional which is great. [Saturday] he showed up again. We can probably go further, but as of right now he’s running pretty well, so I wouldn’t change anything.”

Santa Anita preview

Sunday’s card is 10 races with the usual 12:30 p.m. first post. There are two almost identical $100,000 stakes races and half of the races are on the turf. One thing that is different, though, is 5 ½-furlong turf races, which on Sunday is the first, are now listed as “about” 5 ½ furlongs. This actually started last Saturday on the Equibase charts but didn’t make its way to the program until Sunday. The reason is that Equibase and the Racing Office thought there wasn’t a significant enough run up, so that’s why the ever so slight change was made. The course is no different.

On to the stakes.

$100,000 Zuma Beach: This is for 2-year-olds going a mile on the turf. Big Fish is the 2-1 favorite for trainer David Hofmans and jockey Victor Espinoza. He has won his last two races, which included the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes. The second favorite, at 3-1, is Ebeko for Peter Miller and Ricardo Gonzalez. He was second to Big Fish last out in the Del Mar race. It was his first race in the United States after winning one of three in Ireland. Post is around 2:15 p.m.

$100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes: This is the exact same conditions as the Zuma Beach, except for fillies. Madone s the 5-2 favorite for Simon Callaghan and Flavien Prat. She has won both her races, including the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes. Nimbostratus is the 3-1 second choice for Peter Miller and Tiago Pereira. She finished second last out to Madone at the Del Mar race. Previous to that she won one of two races in Ireland.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 9, 6, 7, 7, 6, 9, 8, 9, 10 (1 also eligible), 11.

Frank Mirahmadi’s SA pick of the day

FIFTH RACE: No. 2 Ekklesia (5-1)

Ekklesia handled the main track well when graduating three starts back and has turned in two decent starts since. The favorite, Nolo Contesto, has lacked the knockout punch in recent starts so perhaps Ekklesia will offer some value.

Saturday’s result: Sea of Liberty was bet down to 7-5, showed no early speed and never made up any ground in a puzzling performance.

Frank Mirahmadi is the track announcer at Santa Anita Park.

Ciaran Thornton’s SA pick of the day

TENTH RACE: No. 3 Hoop Dream (30-1)

Hoop Dream is ridden by Edwin Maldonado for trainer David Bernstein and after winning the debut race this horse moves up in class and switches to turf. Turf is in the bloodlines and we see a sharp work for a horse racing protected Sunday. Trainer owned value plays especially for small stables are something I like to wager on. That last race saw Hoop Dream swing five-wide into the turn to power home for the win. Lightbulb moment? 30-1 is a price I love.

Saturday’s result: Donut Girl broke slow and was overmatched running last.

Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.

Big races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on Saturday.

Pimlico (1): $150,000 Selima Stakes, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Fluffy Socks ($14.40)

Pimlico (2): Grade 3 $150,000 Gallorette Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Juliet Foxtrot ($4.20)

Pimlico (3): $100,000 Skipat Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Never Enough Time ($7.00)

Pimlico (4): $100,000 Hilltop Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1mile on turf. Winner: Evil Lyn ($9.40)

Pimlico (5): Grade 3 $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 6 furlongs. Winner: Wicked Whisper ($12.60)

Pimlico (6): Grade 2 $250,000 Dinner Party Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Factor This ($3.60)

Woodbine (3): $101,200 allowance, fillies and mares 3 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Skygaze ($25.80)

Pimlico (7): Grade 3 $200,000 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash Stakes, 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Laki ($16.40)

Belmont (5): Grade 2 $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 ½ furlongs. Winner: Frank’s Rockette ($2.70)

Pimlico (8): $150,000 Laurel Futurity, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Catman ($22.60)

Belmont (6): Grade 2 $150,000 Pilgrim Stakes, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Fire At Will ($29.00)

Keeneland (6): Grade 2 $150,000 Woodford Stakes, 3 and up, 5 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Leinster ($7.80)

Woodbine (6): $126,800 maiden special weight, fillies 2-years-old, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Designer Ready ($14.00)

Pimlico (9): $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Don Juan Kitten ($7.00)

Belmont (7): Grade 1 $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, 3 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Winner: Channel Maker ($7.60)

Keeneland (7): Grade 2 $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Inthemidstobiz ($28.20)

Belmont (8): Grade 2 $150,000 Kelso Handicap, 3 and up, 1 mile. Winner: Complexity ($3.80)

Pimlico (10): Garde 2 $250,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Miss Marissa ($22.20)

Keeneland (8): Grade 1 $350,000 First Lady Stakes, fillies and mare 3 and up, 1 miles on turf. Winner: Uni ($6.80)

Woodbine (8): $100,000 Toronto Cup Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Proven Strategies ($8.60)

Belmont (9): Grade 1 $250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational, 3-year-olds, 1 ¼ miles on turf. Winner: Gufo ($4.90)

Keeneland (9): Grade 1 $400,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Essential Quality ($5.80)

Woodbine (9): $100,000 Duchess Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 7 furlongs. Winner: Boardroom ($6.00)

Pimlico (11): Grade 1 $1 million Preakness Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 3/16 miles. Winner: Swiss Skydiver ($25.40)

Keeneland (10): Grade 1 $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes, 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Ivar ($30.80)

Woodbine (11): $123,200 maiden special weight, 3 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Red Storm Risen ($7.40)

Santa Anita (8): Grade 2 $200,000 City of Hope Mile, 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Mo Forza ($3.20)

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on Sunday. All times PDT.

10:38 Woodbine (2): $101,200 allowance, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Red Hierarchy (2-1)

11:09 Woodbine (3): $126,800 maiden special weight, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Tourist’s Dream (5-2)

11:40 Woodbine (4): $123,200 maiden special weight, fillies and mares 3 and up, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Ballrooms of Mars (2-1)

1:00 Keeneland (6): $150,000 Indian Summer Stakes, 2-year-olds, 5 ½ furlongs on turf. Favorite: Golden Pal (8-5)

1:12 Belmont (7): Grade 2 $150,000 Miss Grillo Stakes, fillies 2-years-old, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Plum Ali (5-2)

1:23 Woodbine (7): $101,200 allowance, 3 and up, 1 3/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Mnemba Island (5-2)

1:47 Belmont (8): Grade 2 $150,000 Beldame Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Dunbar Road (1-1)

1:58 Woodbine (8): $150,000 Vice Regent Stakes, Ont-breds 3 and up, 5 furlongs on turf. Favorite: Not So Quiet (2-1)

2:10 Keeneland (8): Grade 2 $200,000 Bourbon Stakes, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Mutasaabeq (3-1)

2:12 Monmouth (11): $150,000 Nownownow Stakes, 2-year-olds, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Jimmy P (3-1)

2:15 Santa Anita (4): $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes, 2-year-olds, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Big Fish (2-1)

2:20 Belmont (9): Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational, 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Archidust (5-2)

2:45 Keeneland (9): Grade 1 $400,000 Spinster Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Shedaresthedevil (7-5)

4:25 Santa Anita (8): $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes, fillies 2-years-old, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Madone (5-2)

Chris Wade’s LA pick of the day

THIRD RACE: No. 6 Run Factor (7-2)

He has been very consistent at this level of competition and the speedster draws the outside post that should help him have a clean journey. On our comparison speed charts, this runner will break well near the lead, sit a nice trip through the turn prior to hopefully garnering the lead inside the 1/16th pole at a medium mutuel. Should be a threat for all the board placings.

And now the stars of the show, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.