January, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Swiss Skydiver and Authentic Top Sophomore Divisions

Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) dominated the 3-year-old filly division in 2020 and even defeated some of the top older males of her generation, making her the clear-cut choice for this award. Kicking off her sophomore season with a third in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at Fair Grounds in February, the $35,000 KEESEP buy rebounded with a trio of decisive victories in the Mar. 28 GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, May 1 GIII Fantasy S. and June 6 GII Santa Anita Oaks. Trainer Ken McPeek tried his charge against males for the first time in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland July 11, where she finished a valiant second to Art Collector (Bernardini).

Returning to winning ways with a facile victory in Saratoga's prestigious GI Alabama S. Aug. 15, Swiss Skydiver checked in second to Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) next out in the delayed GI Longines Kentucky Oaks Sept. 4. Despite that loss, McPeek and owner Peter Callahan had enough faith in their star filly to take on males yet again, this time in the GI Preakness S. Oct. 3. Swiss Skydiver dueled stride-for-stride with fellow champion and GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (Into Mischief) in the lane, turning back that foe in the final strides for a gutsy victory. The chestnut is the sixth filly to win the Preakness and the first since Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) in 2009. She was last seen finishing a disappointing seventh behind two-time Eclipse winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) after stumbling at the start of the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland Nov. 7.

Over the summer many would have thought Tiz the Law (Constitution) would be taking home the award for top sophomore male, but Authentic (Into Mischief) seized the throne after a sensational fall campaign during which he took home the season's two biggest prizes. A good-looking debut winner at Del Mar in November of 2019, the leggy bay demolished the field in the GIII Sham S. at the start of 2020, despite ducking in harshly in the lane. Following suit with a game victory in the GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita in March, the $350,000 KEESEP acquisition tasted defeat for the first time at the hooves of Honor A.P. (Honor Code), finishing second in the June 6 GI Santa Anita Derby after breaking a step slow, traveling wide and drifting in the stretch.

Off to a sharp start next out in the nine-furlong GI Haskell Invitational S. July 18, Authentic took the field wire-to-wire, holding off a determined Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) by a nose. Many doubted his ability to see out the GI Kentucky Derby's 10-furlong distance after that effort, but the May foal silenced all doubters with a front-running victory over favored GI Belmont S. and GI Runhappy Travers S. victor Tiz the Law. The Bob Baffert pupil did not get his preferred position on the front end in the GI Preakness S. Oct. 3 and came up a neck short of champion filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) after a gritty stretch duel. Facing his elders for the first time including champion stablemates Improbable (City Zip) and Maximum Security (New Year's Day) in the Nov. 7 GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, Authentic went straight to the lead on a Keeneland oval favoring speed and ran his rivals off their feet for a 2 1/4-length score. Following that career-high, the colt was retired to the Spendthrift stallion barn, where he will stand alongside his red hot sire Into Mischief.

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WinStar Named Outstanding Breeder at Eclipse Awards

Leading the way with five Grade I victories in 2020, including a win in the second leg of the Triple Crown and a GI Kentucky Oaks exacta, WinStar Farm was recognized as Outstanding Breeder. It was the third Eclipse Award for Kenny Troutt's operation and second as Outstanding Breeder (2016).

WinStar ranked second overall via breeder earnings in 2020, trailing only Calumet Farm, capturing 148 victories from 1,106 starters, and $9,221,764 in earnings.

Top horses in 2020 bred by WinStar include: Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) (GI Preakness S. and GI Alabama S. heroine and GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up); Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) (GI Kentucky Oaks); Global Campaign (Curlin) (GI Woodward H.); and Paris Lights (Curlin) (GI Coaching Club American Oaks).

Troutt and Bill Casner, founders of Excel Communications, started WinStar Farm after purchasing Prestonwood Farm in 2000. Troutt bought out Casner and became the sole owner 10 years later. WinStar is the home of leading sires such as Distorted Humor, More Than Ready, Speightstown and Constitution.

WinStar Farm, breeder of 2003 dual classic winner Funny Cide, received its first Eclipse Award as Outstanding Owner after capturing the 2010 GI Kentucky Derby with Super Saver and 2010 Belmont S. with Drosselmeyer. WinStar also campaigned 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify in partnership.

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Moscato Named Champion Steeplechaser

Moscato's perennial leading connections had a stranglehold on this year's steeplechase category, with Mike Hankin, Charlie Fenwick and Charlie Noell's Bruton Street-US owning all three finalists and Jack Fisher having also conditioned Rashaan (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}). Bruton Street and Fisher were also responsible for 2017 Eclipse winner Scorpiancer (Ire) (Scorpion {Ire}).

Finishing behind Scorpiancer in both the GI Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle S. and GI Grand National Hurdle S. in 2019, Moscato kicked off his championship campaign during a compressed steeplechase season with a dominant title defense in the GIII Temple Gwathmey Hurdle H. in Middleburg. He added a highest-level win in the GI A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase S. at Saratoga July 23, but settled for third behind Rashaan in the GI New York Turf Writers Cup H. Aug. 20, reversing their finishes in the Temple Gwathmey.

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Monomoy Girl and Improbable Crowned Champion Older Dirt Horses

Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) came into 2020 toting lofty expectations on top of an already gaudy record. After enjoying a truly spectacular sophomore year, annexing six of seven starts–five of them at the Grade I level–including the Longines Kentucky Oaks, Acorn S. and Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, she spent the entire 2019 season on the sidelines because of a mild case of colic followed by a hamstring injury. The half-sister to GII Risen Star S. winner Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice) finally marked her long-awaited return in a May 16 optional claiming event at Churchill Downs, winning by 2 3/4 lengths. Heavily favored for the May 16 GII Ruffian S. at Belmont, the now 6-year-old edged away to a two-length score before adding a tally in Churchill's GI La Troienne S. Sept. 4. Doing exactly what she was expected to do in her seasonal finale in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill, she employed her customary off-the-pace style to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Valiance (Tapit). Offered at the Fasig-Tipton November sale by her connections, the one-time $100,000 Keeneland November yearling flourished into a $9.5 million broodmare prospect for her buyer Spendthrift Farm.

Improbable (City Zip) raced on the bubble of stardom throughout his career, but it was in his 4-year-old season that he truly ascended to the top levels of the sport. Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' when he won the Street Sense S. by a dominating 7 1/4 lengths as a 2-year-old in 2018, the handsome chestnut ended his juvenile campaign with a win in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity. He performed creditably at three, with runner-up efforts in the GII Rebel S. and GI Arkansas Derby leading to a fifth-place effort in the GI Kentucky Derby and a sixth in the GI Preakness S.

Improbable opened 2020 in similar fashion, finishing second behind Tom's d'Etat (Smart Strike) in the Oaklawn Mile in April, but it was all blue skies and rainbows after that. He returned to the West Coast to score a 3 1/4-length victory in the GI Hollywood Gold Cup S. in June, then ventured back East to win the GI Whitney S. in August.

While he uncharacteristically trailed the field for much of the GI Awesome Again S., Improbable uncorked a furious rally on the final bend, inhaling the field–including stablemate and fellow Eclipse finalist Maximum Security (New Year's Day)–at the top of the stretch and bounding clear to a geared-down 4 1/2-length victory.

Improbable attempted that same rally just over a month later in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland, but was never able to reel in pacesetting stablemate Authentic (Into Mischief). His runner-up effort behind that champion 3-year-old was enough, however, to earn him the championship of his division.

Improbable was retired following the Classic and begins his stud career next month at WinStar Farm at a fee of $40,000 S&N.

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