Preakness | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Ultra-Sharp’ Swiss Skydiver Gets Unexpected Company, Fires Bullet In Final Work For Beholder Mile

Champion sophomore filly Swiss Skydiver is preparing to make her 4-year-old debut in Saturday's Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita Park, reports the Daily Racing Form, even though her final breeze on Monday at Gulfstream Park was a bit quicker than planned.

Trainer Ken McPeek explained that Swiss Skydiver broke off solo at the five furlong pole, but found unexpected company at the head of the lane. She tugged jockey Robby Albarado through five furlongs in 58.09 seconds, over two seconds faster than all other works at that distance.

“I wasn't thrilled somebody else's work horse hooked in with us,” McPeek told drf.com. “She was supposed to go in around a minute, but she got too aggressive with the company and went too fast. It is what it is though, and she came out fine afterwards. It's hard not to be satisfied with the work. All is good. She's just ultra-sharp now. She's ready to run.”

Winner of the Preakness Stakes over Horse of the Year Authentic in 2020, Swiss Skydiver has two Grade 1 wins on her resume. She was second the Kentucky Oaks to Shedaresthedevil, second to Art Collector in the G2 Blue Grass Stakes, and won three other prep races for the 2020 Oaks. Most recently, Swiss Skydiver finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Distaff in November before being given time off to prepare for 2021.

Her record stands at six wins from 12 starts for earnings of $1.8 million.

Jesus’ Team Breezes for Dubai World Cup

Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team (Tapiture), second in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. Jan. 23, breezed six furlongs in 1:14.45 at Palm Meadows Training Center Saturday morning, three weeks out from a scheduled to run in the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 27.

“He went perfect, just like I wanted,” trainer Jose D'Angelo said. “He was spectacular on the gallop-out, faster than he finished. I think we're going to have a great trip to Dubai with him. He'll have one more work, an easy seven furlongs next week. This morning, I liked what I saw.”

Joel Rosario will have the mount in the Dubai World Cup.

Jesus' Team's resume also includes a runner-up finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and a third-place finish in the GI Preakness S. He won the Claiming Crown Jewel two starts back Dec. 5.

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Retired Preakness Runner Hemingway’s Key Remains in Good Company

Fifteen years ago, the chestnut Thoroughbred colt Hemingway's Key was keeping some impressive company.

Racing under the silks of Kinsman Stable and trained by Hall of Fame horseman Nick Zito, Hemingway's Key spent the winter of 2006 on the Triple Crown trail competing against the top 3-year-olds in the country, such as Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro, Preakness (G1) winner Bernardini, Belmont (G1) winner Jazil and Grade 1 winners Corinthian, Flashy Bull and First Samurai.

After finishing third in the Preakness and that summer's Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga, Hemingway's Key raced into his 5-year-old season before retiring to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) in Lowell, FL in August of 2008. Hemingway's Key has been a favorite at the TRF's Second Chances Program at the Lowell Correctional Facility.

But now the 18-year-old son of Notebook is taking on another role by being selected as one of four horses to work on the just-announced TRF initiative with Florida's Department of Juvenile Justice aimed at using retired Thoroughbreds to help at-risk youths.

The TRF's Second Chances Juvenile Program will give at-risk juveniles a chance to learn hands-on training in animal skills and life skills that they can use once released.

Hemingway's Key has been a favorite with the women at the Lowell Correctional Institution.

“He's a nice horse and he's probably the horse my students ride the most,” said John Evans, farm manager at Lowell. “He's really sound and is a great saddle horse.”

For more information on the TRF go to trfinc.org.

For information on Beyond the Wire, an industry initiative between the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the Maryland Jockey Club, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland jockeys, go to beyondthewire.org.

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KHRC Awards $14.3 Million to Kentucky Breeders for 2020

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has awarded $14.3 million to qualified breeders through the Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund for Kentucky Thoroughbreds' wins in 2020. The incentive fund requires owners to board mares in Kentucky from the time of breeding until the birth of the foal. Incentive payments are based on the foal's eventual winnings on the racetrack. Last year, nearly 3,500 races were won by a Kentucky-bred receiving a breeder award.

Kentucky-breds won over 245 graded stakes in the United States and 18 group races in Canada, England, France and Ireland last year, victories that included Authentic's (Into Mischief) success in the GI Kentucky Derby, Shedaresthedevil's (Daredevil) win in the GI Kentucky Oaks and Swiss Skydiver's (Daredevil) win in the GI Preakness S.

“We need the commonwealth's signature horse industry to stay strong and engaged as we sprint out of the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of being part of our history, the industry supports many Kentucky families today and will continue to draw new visitors to the state in the future,” said Governor Andy Beshear. “Thanks to Kentucky breeders and a strong racing circuit enhanced by historical horse racing, Kentucky remains a leader in breeding with more stallions than any other state, and representing 42% of the foal crop in North America.”

Since its inception in 2006, more than $184 million has been awarded to Kentucky breeders for winning eligible races across the globe. The fund receives 80% of the 6% sales tax paid when breeding a stallion to a mare in the commonwealth. In addition, the 2020 fund received $1.1 million from wagers on historical horse racing.

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