Swiss Skydiver | Horse Racing Free Tips

America’s Day At The Races Telecast To Feature Apple Blossom Showdown, Closing Weekend At Aqueduct

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, will air 19.5 hours of coverage Thursday through Sunday, with stakes action from Oaklawn Park and Aqueduct Racetrack.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will broadcast live racing action from the Hot Springs, Arkansas oval featuring a battle between champions Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap as well as Closing Weekend of the 11-day spring meet at the Big A.

Broadcast schedule for America's Day at the Races (all times Eastern):

Thursday, April 15
FS2: 1 – 6:30 p.m.

Friday, April 16
FS2: 1 – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 17
FS2: 5 – 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 18
FS2: 1 – 2:30 p.m.
FS1: 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
FS2: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Stakes action from Oaklawn kicks off on Friday, April 16 with a pair of $150,000 stakes for horses bred in Arkansas, including the Rainbow for sophomore sprinters in Race 6 at 5:09 p.m. ET and the Rainbow Miss for sophomore fillies in Race 9 at 6:10 p.m. ET.

Saturday's Oaklawn card will see Silver State seek his fifth consecutive win when he takes on a field of eight in the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap at nine furlongs for older horses in Race 9 at 5:49 p.m. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Silver State launched his win streak in Kentucky with an allowance win in October at Keeneland ahead of an optional-claiming score at Churchill Downs a month later. He enters off two wins at Oaklawn in the Fifth Season in January and the Essex Handicap last out on March 13.

The 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom for older fillies and mares in Race 11 at 7:09 p.m. offers a heavyweight battle as the reigning champion older dirt female Monomoy Girl takes on last year's champion 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver.

Trained by Brad Cox and owned by My Racehorse Stable, Spendthrift Farm and Madaket Stables, Monomoy Girl has banked more than $4.5 million in earnings from a record of 14 wins in 16 starts. A winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in 2018 and 2020, Monomoy Girl captured the Grade 3 Bayakoa in her seasonal debut on February 28 in the slop at Oaklawn. Florent Geroux has the call aboard Monomoy Girl from the outermost post 6.

Peter J. Callahan's Swiss Skydiver, trained by Kenny McPeek, boasts a record of 13-7-3-1 with purse earnings in excess of $2 million. The Daredevil chestnut captured the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga in August ahead of a runner-up effort to Shedaresthedevil in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Swiss Skydiver exited that effort to best the boys in the Grade 1 Preakness before ending a five-win campaign with an off-the-board effort in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. She launched her 4-year-old season with a score in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 13 at Santa Anita Park. Robby Albarado retains the mount from post 2.

The compact 11-day Big A spring meet comes to a close this weekend. Saturday's action includes the $100,000 Woodhaven at 1 1/16-miles on turf for sophomores in Race 8 at 5:19 p.m.

On Sunday, the $100,000 Memories of Silver will feature sophomore fillies trying 1 1/16-miles on the turf, while the $200,000 NYSSS Park Avenue will feature eligible New York-sired sophomore fillies sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs.

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel which boasts more than 65,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a plethora of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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‘We’re Coming With A Beast’: McPeek Says Swiss Skydiver Ready To Take On Monomoy Girl In Apple Blossom

Shortly after weights were released early Saturday afternoon, trainer Kenny McPeek said champion Swiss Skydiver “absolutely” would return to Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., for a showdown with champion Monomoy Girl in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles April 17.

“We're coming with a beast,” McPeek said.

Post positions for the Apple Blossom and the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G1) for older horses April 17 will be drawn Tuesday. Monomoy Girl was assigned top weight of 124 pounds for the Apple Blossom, 2 pounds more than Swiss Skydiver.

In her first start against older horses, notably Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver finished seventh in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland after stumbling at the start of the 1 1/8-mile race. The Distaff was a weight-for-age race, with Monomoy Girl carrying equal top weight of 124 pounds. Swiss Skydiver carried 121.

“Fair enough,” McPeek said, referring to the Apple Blossom weights. “After this race, we'll have to give her weight then.”

Swiss Skydiver earned an Eclipse Award as the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2020 following a coast-to-coast campaign that saw the daughter of Daredevil capture 5 of 10 starts, including the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn, $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park and the $500,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Swiss Skydiver also toppled males, including future Horse of the Year Authentic, in the Preakness – the third leg of the revamped 2020 Triple Crown – Oct. 3 at Pimlico under two-time Oaklawn riding champion Robby Albarado.

Swiss Skydiver launched her 2021 campaign with a sharp 2 ¾-length victory under Albarado in the $300,000 Beholder Mile (G1) March 13 at Santa Anita.

McPeek said Swiss Skydiver will be vanned from Churchill Downs, where she worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 Saturday morning over a fast track, “probably” arriving Tuesday night “as long as the weather's clear when she can travel.”

“Robby Albarado's coming down to get on her every day,” McPeek said. “My regular team will be with her.”

Two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl completed major preparations for the Apple Blossom with a half-mile work in company just after the track opened Sunday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Brad Cox.

Monomoy Girl had been scheduled to breeze Saturday morning, but the work was postponed because of an off track. Working over a fast track under regular rider Florent Geroux, Monomoy Girl went in :47.60 and galloped out five furlongs in :59.60 and six furlongs in 1:12.80, according to clockers. Monomoy Girl (on the outside) worked with stablemate Owendale, a millionaire graded stakes-winning male who is scheduled to run in the Oaklawn Handicap. Monomoy Girl started about a length behind Owendale and finished about a length ahead.

“Just great, as usual,” Geroux said. “Just maintenance – nice and easy – and finished up very strong. Seemed like the track was a little quick this morning. She handled it perfectly. Very pleased with her and just can't wait for next Saturday.”

Monomoy Girl will be making her first start since winning the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Feb. 28 at Oaklawn in her 2021 debut. She was the county's champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 and champion older dirt female last year. Overall, Monomoy Girl has won 14 of 16 lifetime starts.

Multiple graded stakes winner Letruska, also ticketed for the Apple Blossom, worked just before the first surface renovation break Sunday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Fausto Gutierrez.

The speed Letruska recorded a half-mile bullet (:47.20) and galloped five furlongs in :59.40, according to clockers, with a last quarter-mile in :23.

“I was looking for an easy work,” Gutierrez said. “When I checked the time, I think she went fast. She's got a lot of speed. I think it's OK and she's in good form.”

Gutierrez said three-time reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. would have the mount in the Apple Blossom. Letruska (118 pounds) was the only other probable listed by the Oaklawn racing department Sunday morning. Letruska (12 for 17 overall) finished second, beaten a head by Shedaresthedevil, in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 13 at Oaklawn. Shedaresthedevil captured Oaklawn's $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) and the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) last year for Cox and co-owner Staton Flurry of Hot Springs. Swiss Skydiver was second in the Kentucky Oaks, the nation's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies.

The Oaklawn racing department listed nine probables Sunday morning for the Oaklawn Handicap – Express Train (122 pounds), Fearless (119), Owendale (119), Enforceable (118), Silver State (118), Warrior's Charge (118), Rated R Superstar (116), Silver Prospector (116) and Guest Suite (115).

Express Train finished second, beaten a half-length, in the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 6 at Santa Anita for trainer John Shirreffs, who won the Apple Blossom twice (2008 and 2010) with future Hall of Famer Zenyatta.

Silver State has won four consecutive starts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, including Oaklawn's $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Jan. 23 and $500,000 Essex Handicap March 13.

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‘His Positivity And Humor Are Infectious’: 70-Year-Old Exercise Rider Danny Ramsey Is One Of A Kind

The 70-year-old exercise rider Danny Ramsey has the kind of infectious smile that endears him to everyone in his path. For Thoroughbred Racing Commentary contributor Patrick Gilligan, Ramsey's perennial positive attitude was a highlight during their shared tenure in the barn of trainer Kenny McPeek.

“His positivity and humor are infectious,” Gilligan wrote. “I would be leading one of his horses to the track, and he would pass riders and they would ask him how he was. 'I'm good. I'm better than good!' he would exclaim. 'If you're doing better than me I must be dead, so put me in the ground!' And he would start laughing to himself and so would I. And he said this most days, and still every day we laughed together.”

Ramsey has been employed by McPeek since 2012, and despite a suffering serious injuries in a fall last March, the veteran horseman got back to riding out in the mornings as soon as he could. Ramsey is still making people smile, too.

“Danny was the person who made me laugh again, made me start to love life again,” wrote Gilligan.

There's no higher praise than that.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

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Dubai World Cup Winner Mystic Guide Takes Over NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

Godolphin homebred Mystic Guide earned his first top-level victory in spectacular fashion this past weekend when he surged to a 3 ¾-length triumph in the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. In addition to padding his career bankroll, that win allowed the son of Ghostzapper to continue to elevate his reputation in the handicap ranks as he takes over the No. 1 spot in this week's National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Trained by Michael Stidham, Mystic Guide came into the Group 1 Dubai World Cup off a six-length victory in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap on February 27. The 4-year-old colt, who won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes during his sophomore campaign, earned 21 first-place votes and 333 points this week to move past fellow Grade 1 winner Charlatan into the lead position on the poll.

“Today he proved he is a champion and I know he is going to get better and better,” jockey Luis Saez told the Dubai World Cup notes team after piloting Mystic Guide to victory. “What a nice horse, he has all the ability. It's an honor for me. It's a dream come true.”

Charlatan, who most recently finished as the runner-up in the $20 million Saudi Cup, drops one spot to second with 10 first-place votes and 328 points. Champion distaffer Monomoy Girl sits third with 6 first-place votes and 309 points followed by fellow champion Swiss Skydiver (1 first-place vote, 249 points) and stablemate Knicks Go (231 points).

Grade 1 winner Colonel Liam ranks sixth with 193 points while Santa Anita Handicap hero Idol (122 points) is seventh. Godolphin's Maxfield ranks eighth with 68 points while Shedaresthedevil (52 points), and champion female sprinter Gamine (45) round out the top 10.

The Godolphin team reigns over both NTRA polls this week as their unbeaten juvenile champion Essential Quality maintains his lead position in the Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll with 31 first-place votes and 373 points ahead of his expected run in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 3.

Concert Tour, winner of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, remains second with 6 first-place votes and 330 points with Louisiana Derby victor Hot Rod Charlie moving up to third with 258 points. Known Agenda joins the top 10 for the first time, landing in the fourth spot this week with 240 points following his triumph in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

Medina Spirit sits fifth with 185 points while Greatest Honour (178 points) drops to sixth after finishing third as the favorite in the Florida Derby. Risk Taking (89 points) is seventh followed by Life Is Good (1 first-place vote, 88 points), Midnight Bourbon (70), and Helium (51).

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport's most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Voting in the Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll concludes following the Belmont Stakes on June 5 and the Top Thoroughbred Poll is scheduled to be conducted through November 6.

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