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Baffert On Preakness 145: ‘Robby Albarado Rode Just A Great Race’

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert praised Preakness (G1) 145 winner Swiss Skydiver and her jockey Robby Albarado during a visit to the Preakness Stakes Barn at Pimlico in Baltimore, Md., on Sunday morning and said he was still stunned with the outcome of the race.

While Baffert's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic finished a neck behind Swiss Skydiver in the second-fastest Preakness in history, he did not get the pace-setting, catch-me-if-you-can trip under John Velazquez that he had at Churchill Downs four weeks earlier. Instead, Authentic stalked Baffert's other starter, Thousand Words, early on. It was the reverse of what Baffert expected.

“I thought he would be on the lead,” Baffert said. “This horse is a free-running horse. He wants to be out there and going. The other horse was there but they weren't really going that fast.”

The first quarter was run in 24.48 seconds, which turned out to be the slowest of the race that was completed in 1:53.28.

Swiss Skydiver made what proved to be the decisive move going into the far turn when Albarado guided her around the tiring Thousand Words and to the inside of Authentic. She won the dynamic battle through the stretch.

“I have to give credit. Robby Albarado rode just a great race. The mare ran a great race,” Baffert said. “They went 1:53. It's not like he didn't show up.”

A month earlier at the top of the stretch in the Derby, heavily favored Tiz the Law looked poised to overtake Authentic, but he could not complete the task. Baffert was on the other end of that scenario in the Preakness.

“After all of that, I'm still surprised he just could not get by her,” Baffert said. “She just was game. It was one of those things where I said, 'All right, come on, get by her.' They were running, they were leaving the field. It was, 'Wow, did that really just happen?' But he showed up and he ran. The other horse (Thousand Words) he was sort of spinning. He just wasn't running at all.”

Baffert said both of his colts came out the race in good shape and will be shipped back to California on Monday. He said Authentic will be prepared for the Breeders' Cup Classic. Baffert has two other likely Classic runners, the 4-year-olds Improbable and Maximum Security.

Baffert was bidding for a record eighth Preakness victory. He had completed the double with his five previous Derby winners, but the 2020 Triple Crown schedule was changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, putting four weeks, not two, between the races. Still, Baffert said he was very confident.

“It's the kind of race where I ran second but it was like, 'What happened?'” he said. “I felt really good about him coming into this race, the way he had been working, the way he had been acting. He was fresh. I told Johnny, 'He's really sharp.'”

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Expo Gold, Dam Of Preakness Winner Swiss Skydiver, To Be Offered At Keeneland November Sale

Expo Gold, whose daughter Swiss Skydiver made history yesterday by winning the $1 million Preakness Stakes, will be offered in foal to multiple Grade 1 winner Catholic Boy on Nov. 9 during the premier Book 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale.

The 12-year-old daughter of Johannesburg will be consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

“Swiss Skydiver's Preakness win puts her in rarified air alongside other iconic fillies like Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors,” said Mark Taylor, Taylor Made's Vice President of Marketing and Public Sales Operations. “We are excited to offer her dam, Expo Gold, at Keeneland in November. Her mating to Catholic Boy follows the same cross as Swiss Skydiver and as Expo Gold's 4-year-old stakes-placed filly, Miss Hot Legs.”

In the Preakness, Swiss Skydiver outdueled Kentucky Derby winner Authentic in a thrilling stretch battle and won the 1 3/16-mile race by a neck in 1:53.28 – second only to Secretariat's stakes record of 1:53 from 1973. Only the sixth filly to win the Preakness, Swiss Skydiver showed that same grit against males in Keeneland's Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, when she led male rivals through zippy fractions before settling for the runner-up spot in a field of 13.

Swiss Skydiver is a headliner of her generation, and she has drawn comparisons to Hall of Fame fillies for her gallantry against male rivals. This year, Swiss Skydiver also has won the G1 Alabama, G2 Santa Anita Oaks, G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks and G3 Fantasy, and she was second in the Kentucky Oaks and the Toyota Blue Grass.

“The 2020 Preakness showcased the heart and tenacity of two great Thoroughbreds, and we'll never forget their stretch battle,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin. “Keeneland is so proud that our September Yearling Sale produced both Swiss Skydiver and Authentic, and now we are especially honored to be able to offer Swiss Skydiver's dam, Expo Gold, at the November Sale.”

Expo Gold is in foal to the promising young stallion Catholic Boy, who, like Swiss Skydiver's sire, Daredevil, is a son of the internationally acclaimed More Than Ready. Catholic Boy was a Grade 1 winner on turf and dirt before launching his stud career in 2020.

While Swiss Skydiver is becoming a racehorse for the ages, Expo Gold boasts a lineage rich with quality. Her sire, Johannesburg, is the broodmare sire of such additional standouts as Grade 1 winners Basin and Collected. Her graded stakes-placed dam is a reliable producer of winners, one of which is already a stakes producer.

In addition to Expo Gold, two other members of Swiss Skydiver's family are cataloged to Book 1 of the November Sale:

Half-sister Is It Gold, a winning daughter of Indygo Shiner in foal to Nyquist, is consigned by South Point Sales Agency, agent.
Hunter Valley Farm agent, consigns the aforementioned Miss Hot Legs, a daughter of Verrazano (another son of More Than Ready), as a broodmare prospect.

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Dam of Swiss Skydiver to Keeneland November

Expo Gold (Johannesburg), the dam of Saturday’s GI Preakness S. winner Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) will be offered in foal to multiple GI winner Catholic Boy Nov. 9 in on the first day of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The 12-year-old will be consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

“Swiss Skydiver’s Preakness win puts her in rarified air alongside other iconic fillies like Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors,” said Mark Taylor, Taylor Made’s Vice President of Marketing and Public Sales Operations. “We are excited to offer her dam, Expo Gold, at Keeneland in November. Her mating to Catholic Boy follows the same cross as Swiss Skydiver and as Expo Gold’s 4-year-old stakes-placed filly, Miss Hot Legs.”

In the Preakness, Swiss Skydiver outdueled Kentucky Derby winner Authentic in a thrilling stretch battle and won the 1 3/16-mile race by a neck in 1:53.28-second only to Secretariat’s 1973 stakes record of 1:53. She became only the sixth filly to win the Preakness. This year, Swiss Skydiver also has won the GI Alabama, GII Santa Anita Oaks, GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and GIII Fantasys. She was second in the GI Kentucky Oaks, and in the GII Toyota Blue Grass against males.

“The 2020 Preakness showcased the heart and tenacity of two great Thoroughbreds, and we’ll never forget their stretch battle,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin. “Keeneland is so proud that our September Yearling Sale produced both Swiss Skydiver and Authentic, and now we are especially honored to be able to offer Swiss Skydiver’s dam, Expo Gold, at the November Sale.”

Like Swiss Skydiver’s sire, Daredevil, Catholic Boy is a son of More Than Ready. Catholic Boy was a Grade I winner on turf and dirt before beginning his stud career at Claiborne Farm in 2020.

In addition to Expo Gold, two other members of Swiss Skydiver’s family are cataloged to Book 1 of the November Sale:

Half-sister Is It Gold, a winning daughter of Indygo Shiner in foal to Nyquist, is consigned by South Point Sales Agency, agent.
Hunter Valley Farm, agent, consigns Miss Hot Legs (Verrazano), and also by a son of More Than Ready, as a broodmare prospect.

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Third Foret For Fastnet Rock’s One Master

Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) may have come up short in her history bid on Sunday, but ParisLongchamp was still able to host a ground-breaking mare as One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) brought up an unprecedented third victory in the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret. Covered up early by Pierre-Charles Boudot as Godolphin’s 7-5 favourite Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) took the bull by the horns after the first two furlongs, the 29-10 second favourite was launched a furlong out to reel in that rival in a frantic final 50 metres and register the landmark win by a short-neck as Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) made it three seven-furlongs specialists in a line a short head behind in third. “She’s a fantastic filly and comes good over this track and trip,” trainer William Haggas said. “She was given another brilliant ride from Pierre-Charles and wants to win. She had to battle it out today, but she did it. The last horse to win two Forets was Moorestyle (GB), who was ridden by Maureen’s father and trained by her uncle, so this is very unique and I suspect it’ll take some beating. It’s a shame that the other mare couldn’t make it three on the day, but this is a good feat in itself. She looks after herself and we haven’t over-raced her and when you do that they repay you.”

First brought here in 2018 as a 33-1 shot, One Master had stall 15 to overcome on ground a touch livelier than she likes but in the early days of “PC” she was smuggled by another Godolphin runner in Inns of Court (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) to edge a short-head verdict. A year on, the bay had a kinder draw and the very soft ground she thrives on and was the relatively comfortable winner from City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), having placed in the G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Falmouth S. over a mile during the summer. Turned to six-furlong sprinting thereafter, she was second in the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. at Ascot and sixth on her seasonal bow in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. back there June 20 before heading back over further.

Arguably unlucky when beaten less than a length by Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) when fourth under Boudot in the latest edition of the Falmouth July 10, the homebred was paired with Tom Marquand for her next three outings over this trip and got their partnership off to a flyer when defying a penalty with another of her late shows in Goodwood’s G3 Oak Tree S. July 31. Left behind by Safe Voyage when 3 1/2-lengths second to that rival in the Aug. 22 G2 City of York S., she was beaten in a bobbing finish by Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never) in Doncaster’s G2 Park S. Sept. 12 but this was the day that mattered and she was produced brilliantly to pull off the rare achievement.

Again played late, it was her burst between the 300 and 100-metre mark that made the difference as Safe Voyage took time to wind up and Earthlight possibly paying for having to use up energy to get across from his wide draw and on to the lead. “She is very laid-back and easy to deal with and she knows how to race. I don’t know what it is about this time of year, but she seems to come good and we haven’t missed a beat this year. She’s run in every race we’ve wanted her to and I’m thrilled for everyone here. She’ll have another run, I suppose, if she’s okay and she’s in both races at Ascot over six and a mile and I quite fancy the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland as she’s pretty nippy. I’ll have to speak to Roy and Gretchen, but I’m absolutely thrilled for them as they have been fantastic supporters of ours and they said straight after last year ‘let’s have another season in training’ so good for them.”

Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard said of the runner-up, who almost held off the mare in a pulsating finish. “Earthlight has run a super race. He was in such good form–you could see in the paddock that he was really happy to be at the races–and was almost a bit too well in himself. Mickael said that no-one else wanted to go on, so he found himself in front which may have cost him slightly in the dying strides. We can’t look for too many excuses, as he has been beaten by a mare who knows her way round Longchamp with her eyes closed. One Master is fantastic and connections have done a great job in bringing her back in peak form again. We are really pleased with Earthlight and Mickael felt that he fought hard all the way to the line.”

One Master’s dam is the smart sprinter Enticing (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who captured the G3 Molecomb S. at two and Goodwood’s King George S. when it was staged as a group 3. Also the second dam of last year’s G3 Killavullan S. winner Stela Star (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}) who was also runner-up in this season’s GIII Honeymoon S., she is a daughter of Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}) who first brought European success to Lael Stable when landing the G2 Flying Childers S. and G2 Norfolk S. and finishing runner-up in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye here and the G1 Phoenix S. Superstar Leo, whose other notable performer was the Listed Fleur de Lys S. scorer and G3 Jersey S. runner-up Sentaril (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), is kin to Starship (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who produced the G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Rivet (Ire) and the Hong Kong group 3 winner Out and About (Ire) from matings with One Master’s sire Fastnet Rock, as well as the G3 Gallinule S. winner Alexander Pope (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). This is also the family of the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains third San Donato (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), the G1 Turnbull S. winner December Draw (Ire) (Medecis {GB}) and the Guineas-winning sires Footstepsinthesand (GB) and Power (GB). Enticing’s as-yet unraced 3-year-old colt by Kodiac (GB) is named Craved (GB), while she also has the once-raced 2-year-old filly winner by the same sire named Arousing (GB) and a foal full-brother to One Master.

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE LA FORET-G1, €210,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-4, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:24.75, hy.
1–ONE MASTER (GB), 125, m, 6, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Enticing (Ire) (MGSW-Eng, $260,363), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Superstar Leo (Ire), by College Chapel (GB)
3rd Dam: Council Rock (GB), by General Assembly
O-Lael Stable; B-Lael Stables (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €119,994. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, SW & MG1SP-Eng, 22-7-4-3, €1,016,772. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Earthlight (Ire), 126, c, 3, Shamardal–Winters Moon (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €48,006.
3–Safe Voyage (Ire), 128, g, 7, Fast Company (Ire)–Shishangaan (Ire), by Mujadil. (£52,000 Ylg ’14 DNPRM). O-Ross Harmon; B-Adolf Schneider (IRE); T-John Quinn. €24,003.
Margins: NK, SHD, 1HF. Odds: 2.90, 1.40, 3.50.
Also Ran: Tropbeau (GB), Rubaiyat (Fr), Irska (Fr), Spinning Memories (Ire), Toro Strike, Pretreville (Fr). Scratched: Speak In Colours (GB), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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