Swiss Skydiver | Horse Racing Free Tips

Weekend Lineup: Highly-Anticipated Showdown Looms Between Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver

After last week's showdown of top sprinters C Z Rocket and Whitmore, Oaklawn Park will once again be the nation's focus for a much-anticipated battle between Eclipse Award-winning females Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.

Monomoy Girl, owned by MyRacehorse, Spendthrift Farm and Madaket Stables, and trained by Brad Cox, is a two-time Eclipse Award winner, who captured the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff in 2018 and in 2020. Swiss Skydiver, owned by Peter Callahan and trained by Kenny McPeek, was voted champion 3-year-old filly last year. Swiss Skydiver won the 2020 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes over Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve winner and future Horse of Year Authentic. Swiss Skydiver finished seventh to Monomoy Girl in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff.

The Grade 1, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap for older horses at 1 1/8 miles will be run two races earlier on the Oaklawn program.

TVG will be broadcasting every race, every day with expanded coverage of Keeneland's Spring Meet, which runs through April 23. In addition to racing from Keeneland, Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, TVG will feature racing from Oaklawn Park, Aqueduct and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will also be live on Saturday on FS2 from 5-8 p.m. ET featuring the Apple Blossom and the Oaklawn Handicap. On Sunday, “America's Day at the Races” will air from 1-2:30 p.m. ET on FS2, 2:30-5:30 p.m. ET on FS1, and from 5:30-6:30 p.m. ET on FS2.

Friday, April 16

5:30 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Baird Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables and Heider Family Stables' 4-year-old filly Speech returns to Keeneland, the site of her greatest career triumph, in Friday's Grade 3 Baird Doubledogdare Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Speech is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the seven-horse field. Last July, the bay filly captured Keeneland's Grade 1 Central Bank Ashland Stakes by three lengths. W.S. Farish's Royal Flag, the 5-2 second choice trained by Chad Brown, is making her first start since capturing the Grade 3 Turn Back the Alarm Handicap at Aqueduct last November. Juddmonte Farms' Bonny South, second in both last year's Grade 1 Alabama Stakes and the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, should also figure in the picture for trainer Brad Cox.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE041621USA9-EQB.html

Saturday, April 17

5:30 p.m. ―$200,000 Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Trinity Farm's homebred 7-year-old gelding Red Knight, winner of last fall's Grade 3 Sycamore at Keeneland, drew the outside post position in a field of 10 runners for Saturday's Grade 2 $200,000 Elkhorn Stakes going 1½ miles on the grass. Listed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite, Red Knight, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by James Graham, finished second in the 2019 edition of the Elkhorn. Joseph Allen's North Dakota, fourth to Red Knight in last year's Sycamore, will be making his first start since finishing 10th in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in January for trainer Shug McGaughey. Three Diamonds Farm's Tide of the Sea, trained by Mike Maker, won a 1 ½-mile allowance race at Keeneland last October, and captured the Grade 3 W. L. McKnight at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23, also at 1 ½ miles.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE041721USA9-EQB.html

5:49 p.m.― $1 million Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park on TVG and FS2

A wide-open renewal of Saturday's Grade 2 $1 million Oaklawn Handicap at 1 1/8 miles could be the right spots for shippers from California and Florida among the 10 horses entered. CRK Stable's 4-year-old Express Train, trained by John Shirreffs, is in from the West Coast following a second-place finish in the Grade 1 1 ¼-mile Santa Anita Handicap on March 6, and a 3 ¼-length victory in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes prior to that. The Todd Pletcher- trained lightly raced 5-year-old gelding Fearless won the Grade 2 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes last out on Feb. 27 for his fourth win in seven starts. Rupp Racing's Owendale was second by a head in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic Stakes at the Fair Grounds on March 20, and was third in Oaklawn's Grade 3 Razorback Handicap on Feb. 27. Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's 4-year-old Silver State is two for two at Oaklawn this year, including a neck victory over Danny Caldwell's Rated R Superstar in the 1 1/16-mile Essex Stakes on March 13.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP041721USA9-EQB.html

7:09 p.m. ―$1 million Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on TVG and FS2

A clash of female titans will be on display this Saturday at Oaklawn as 2020 Eclipse Awards winners Monomoy Girl, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, and Swiss Skydiver, trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Robby Albarado, square off in the Grade 1 $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap, leading a six-horse field of fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles. The 6-year-old even-money morning line favorite Monomoy Girl, owned by MyRacehorse, Spendthrift Farm and Madaket Stables, is 14 of 16. The daughter of Tapizar was the champion 3-year-old filly in 2018 and the champion older dirt female of 2020. Monomoy Girl opened 2021 with a two-length win in Oaklawn's Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes on Feb. 28. Peter Callahan's 4-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver also won her 2021 debut, capturing the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita by 2 ¾ lengths on March 13. A bay daughter of Daredevil, Swiss Skydiver, 2-1 on the morning line, won the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, the highlight of a season in which she raced at nine different tracks and earned the 3-year-old filly Eclipse Award. Not to be overlooked is St. George Stable's 5-year-old Letruska,12 of 17, who was second last time out in Oaklawn's Grade 2 Azeri Stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP041721USA11-EQB.html

7:51 p.m. ―$200,000 Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

The 4-year-old Independence Hall, third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap, is the 8-5 morning line favorite against four rivals in Saturday's Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita Park for trainer Michael McCarthy. Brazilian-bred Royal Ship, trained by Richard Mandella, is seeking his first win in the U.S after winning five straight in his home country in 2019. The bay 5-year-old gelding returns to the main track following a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 6. Magic On Tap, a 5-year-old son of Tapit, trained by Bob Baffert, steps into stakes company for the first time following an impressive 1 1/16-mile allowance win in over the track on March 28.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA041721USA8-EQB.html

Sunday, April 18

5 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Last September, MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm's Tizamagician finished second in the Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita Park. The 4-year-old son of Tiznow returns for Sunday's demanding 1 ½-mile Grade 3 test in a five-horse field. Trained by Richard Mandella, Tizamagician, comes into the race off a fifth-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 6 and a second in the Grade 2 San Pasqual on Jan. 30. The 6-year-old gelding Zestful, trained by Mark Glatt, finished fourth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual. In November of 2019, Zestful finished second by three-quarters of a length in the listed 1 ¾-mile Marathon Stakes at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA041821USA3-EQB.html

7:53 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Kona Gold Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

The 4-year-old Brickyard Ride, owned Alfred Pais and trained by Craig Lewis, leads the Grade 3 $100,000 Kona Gold Stakes Sunday at Santa Anita. A California-bred son of Clubhouse Ride, Brickyard Ride has won four of his last five starts, including a four-length win in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 6 at Santa Anita. The Bob Baffert-trained 6-year-old gelding Ax Man, won the listed Santana Mile by 4 ½ lengths in his last start on March 28.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA041821USA8-EQB.html

The post Weekend Lineup: Highly-Anticipated Showdown Looms Between Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Champions Battle in Apple Blossom

Saturday's GI Apple Blossom H. at Oaklawn Park features a clash between champions Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil).

Named champion 3-year-old filly off a sparkling 2018 campaign, Monomoy Girl returned from a year and a half on the sidelines to win all four starts in 2020, including Churchill's GI La Troienne S. followed by a successful title defense in the Nov. 7 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland. After realizing $9.5 million from Spendthrift Farm at Fasig-Tipton in November, the 6-year-old mare marked her debut sporting the MyRacehorse silks when taking Oaklawn's GIII Bayakoa S. Feb. 28. The Brad Cox trainee has shown signs of readiness for her step back up to Grade I company with a swift four-furlong breeze in :47.60 at Oaklawn Apr. 11.

Looking to stand in the two-time champion's way is Swiss Skydiver, who enters Saturday's test off a confident victory in the GI Beholder Mile at Santa Anita Mar. 13. Trained by Ken McPeek, the chestnut bagged five graded stakes victories in 2020, highlighted by the GI Alabama S. and the GI Preakness S., when she was seen defeating subsequent sophomore champion colt and Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief). Despite finishing seventh behind Monomoy Girl on Breeders' Cup day, she earned a divisional title for a season that saw her win five of 10 starts while earning over $1.6 million for owner Peter Callaghan. Robbie Albarado, aboard for her three latest starts, returns to the irons Saturday.

Swiss Skydiver arrived at Oaklawn Wednesday afternoon and galloped over a muddy surface after the second renovation break Thursday morning. She has registered three workouts since the Beholder, including a five-furlong move in 1:00.40 at Churchill Downs Apr. 10.

“It's scary,” Albarado said. “She might be better than last year. She's doing so good right now.”

Swiss Skydiver can collect a $60,000 bonus for winning the Apple Blossom for racing Lasix-free.

“She doesn't need it,” McPeek said. “She's never really needed it. We took her off Lasix for her last start because she's going to be running the rest of the year without it, anyway.”

The post Champions Battle in Apple Blossom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Albarado: Swiss Skydiver ‘Might Be Better Than Last Year’ Ahead Of Apple Blossom

A lot has changed since jockey Robby Albarado was Oaklawn's leading rider in 1996 and 1997, particularly lately.

Oaklawn, as part of a multi-million expansion, is opening a seven-story, 200-room hotel overlooking the first turn. Albarado, who is back in Hot Springs as the regular rider of champion Swiss Skydiver in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares Saturday at Oaklawn, was a guest of the hotel Wednesday night.

“I stayed in the hotel last night and was trying to think what was here,” Albarado said after galloping Swiss Skydiver Thursday morning at Oaklawn. “What was in this actual spot, where this hotel is? That's where the old gap was. I was trying to envision where the (track) kitchen was exactly. I can remember (trainer James Eckrosh) parking in that one spot and hitting the fence every day. He backed into the fence or hit the fence every day, turning in. But you know what? There's only one thing that's constant in life – change.”

After his career began to nosedive several years ago, Albarado's fortunes began to change when he picked up the mount on the well-traveled Swiss Skydiver for last October's Preakness, which was the third leg of the revamped Triple Crown and a race the jockey won in 2007 with eventual two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. Facing males, notably another future Horse of the Year in Authentic, Swiss Skydiver beat the Kentucky Derby winner by a neck in a stirring stretch duel.

Coupled with earlier victories in the $500,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park, $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita and $400,00 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn, Swiss Skydiver was named the country's champion 3-year-old filly.

Swiss Skydiver opened her 2021 campaign with a sharp 2 ¾-length victory in the $300,000 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) March 13 at Santa Anita and now gets a rematch with two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl in the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom. Monomoy Girl won their only meeting – $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland – as Swiss Skydiver finished seventh after stumbling badly at the start. Monomoy Girl was the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 and champion older dirt female of 2020.

“When you get to this point in my career, I live for these kind of races,” Albarado said. “You've got to be tactical, you've got to be ready. I did an interview with a guy from Texas, a reporter. He asked me how I felt. I told him I stayed prepared for these kind of situations. When your named is called, be ready. I was ready for the Preakness. I was prepared for it. I hadn't ridden that level of horse in a couple of years. I didn't think about anything else going on but that race and how tactically I was going to do it. Had three or four scenarios in my mind – if this does that, I'm going to do this. Getting on her all week, like I'm doing here and did in California, she goes around the track a couple of days and figures out where she's at. That's big with her. Like in the Preakness, she knew where she was, the track, the surroundings, the poles. She hooked a Horse of the Year and put him away.”

Swiss Skydiver, who is trained by Kenny McPeek, arrived Wednesday afternoon and galloped over a muddy surface after the second renovation break Thursday morning. Swiss Skydiver has recorded three workouts since the Beholder, including a 5-furlong move in 1:00.40 April 10 at Churchill Downs.

“It's scary,” Albarado said. “She might be better than last year. She's doing so good right now.”

The Apple Blossom headlines Saturday's 12-race card, with probable post time 6:09 p.m. (Central). It goes as the 11th race. First post Saturday is 12:02 p.m.

The projected six-horse Apple Blossom field from the rail out: Another Broad, Ricardo Santana Jr. to ride, 115 pounds, 10-1 on the morning line; Swiss Skydiver, Robby Albarado, 122, 2-1; Letruska, Irad Ortiz Jr., 118, 4-1; Chance to Shine, Ken Tohill, 114, 20-1; Getridofwhatailesu, Francisco Arrieta, 117, 6-1; and Monomoy Girl, Florent Geroux, 124, even money.

Albarado has more than 5,000 victories in his career, with his mounts earning roughly $221 million in purse money. In addition to Curlin and Swiss Skydiver, Albarado was the regular of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft. Albarado has 272 career victories at Oaklawn.

The post Albarado: Swiss Skydiver ‘Might Be Better Than Last Year’ Ahead Of Apple Blossom appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Apple Blossom Showdown: TVG To Go Behind-The-Scenes With Champion Monomoy Girl

TVG, America's horse racing network, will take fans behind the scenes for Saturday's $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) from Oaklawn Park for the showdown between two-time Breeders' Cup Distaff champion Monomoy Girl and 2020 Preakness Stakes heroine Swiss Skydiver as part of the weekend's broadcast.

TVG will have a camera dedicated to Monomoy Girl for the entire day and fans can tune in to watch the live stream beginning 2:15pm PT / 5:15pm ET on the WatchTVG app. Caton Bredar will be with the two-time Eclipse Award winning mare throughout her pre-race preparations and will be reporting throughout the day. Trained by Brad Cox and owned in partnership by My Racehorse Stable, Spendthrift Farm and Madaket Stables, LLC, Monomoy Girl will have Florent Geroux in the irons as she faces a field of five rivals including Swiss Skydiver, winner of the Beholder Mile (G1) in her 4-year-old debut for trainer Ken McPeek.

TVG's Joaquin Jaime will also be providing insight and analysis into Oaklawn's twelve-race card which also includes the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older males which has drawn a contentious field of eight including Express Train, a California-invader for trainer John Shirreffs. The 4-year-old son of Union Rags was last seen finishing second in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

Todd Schrupp, Christina Blacker, Gabby Gaudet and Caleb Keller will be broadcasting live from Keeneland with exclusive interviews, expert analysis and insights throughout the weekend. Friday's featured event is the $100,000 Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares. The mile and a sixteenth contest has drawn a field of seven including graded stakes winner Royal Flag for trainer Chad Brown. The 5-year-old daughter of Candy Ride, a homebred for William S. Farish, has been freshened since winning the Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) in November and will have Joel Rosario in the irons.

The graded stakes action continues Saturday with the $200,000 Elkhorn Stakes (G2), a mile and a half turf event with a field of ten. Trainer Michael Maker has won the last two editions of this race and will saddle three contenders including graded stakes winner Cross Border, third in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) in January.

TVG's Mike Joyce, Simon Bray and Britney Eurton will be reporting live from Santa Anita with full coverage of the nine-race card. The featured race is the $200,000 Californian Stakes (G2) which has attracted a compact but competitive field of five. Trainer Bob Baffert will send out Magic on Tap for his stakes debut after an allowance victory in March as well as graded stakes winner Country Grammer who has been on the sidelines since the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) in August.

Fans of international racing can also tune in for the action from Royal Randwick for Championship Day 2 featuring the $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1). Jason Witham will be anchoring the Australian coverage Friday night.

In addition to racing from Keeneland, Oaklawn and Santa Anita, TVG will feature racing from Gulfstream Park, Aqueduct and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the WatchTVG app which is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV connected devices. TVG account holders can sign in to the WatchTVG app for free using their existing TVG account login details. Non-TVG account holders can sign up for a 7-day free trial. Learn more by going to TVG.com/watch.

The post Apple Blossom Showdown: TVG To Go Behind-The-Scenes With Champion Monomoy Girl appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post