Swiss Skydiver | Horse Racing Free Tips

Champion Swiss Skydiver Makes Triumphant Return In Beholder Mile

Mission accomplished. Idle since a disappointing run in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland Nov. 7, trainer Ken McPeek's reigning Eclipse Champion Filly Swiss Skydiver saved ground early and went on to register a powerful 2 ¾-length victory in Saturday's G1, $300,000 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita. Ridden by Robby Albarado, the 4-year-old filly by Daredevil got the distance in 1:36.18 as she cruised to the wire with her ears pricked.

With Bob Baffert's Golden Principal hustled to the lead from her number two post position, Swiss Skydiver, breaking from the rail, was attentive to the pace while fourth, just 2 ½ length off the lead around the clubhouse turn. Third at the rail, two lengths off of Golden Principal midway around the turn, Swiss Skydiver angled three-wide turning for home and surged to the front approaching the furlong pole as she went on to a very impressive win.

“Being on the inside, circumstances dictate that you need to get away clean to get some kind of a forward position,” said Albarado, who has now ridden her in her last three races, including a sensational neck victory over eventual Horse of the Year Authentic in the G1 Preakness Stakes Oct. 3. “I knew we had speed in the race but if I could get her in position, get her to clip off twelves every eighth (of a mile), she comes home pretty fast.

“Pretty much up the backside, every point I felt like she was right there with me the whole way. She was taking deep breaths around there. When I finally gave her some room there she took off. It was all her, I was just a passenger. … I look forward for the rest of the year with her.”

A winner of last year's G2 Santa Anita Oaks in June, Swiss Skydiver went on to win a pair of G1 races and a total of total of five graded stakes on the year. Off at 7-5 in a field of seven older fillies and mares on Saturday, she paid $4.80, $2.60 and $2.20.

“Yes, she met expectations, but you never know,” said McPeek, who has been at Santa Anita since Swiss Skydiver shipped in from her Gulfstream Park base on Tuesday. “The distance for me was a little bit of a worry because of the run to the first turn. But Robby does know her so well, to get her in 12s, just get her into a nice rhythm and let her make her run. You can't force anything with her, and if you go too fast early, she will wilt a little bit.

“She cruises through everything, even when she gallops. The feed tub's the biggest deal with her. I've never had a horse, colt or filly, eat like she does. It just makes my job so much easier.”

When asked where Swiss Skydiver, who ran at nine different tracks in 10 races last year, might make her next start, McPeek responded: “Maybe the Apple Blossom (G1 at Oaklawn Park April 17), maybe the La Troienne (G1 at Churchill Downs April 30), one of those two. … She's just really good, maybe we'll go hunt Monomoy Girl (2020 Eclipse Champion Older Dirt Female) now, we'll see.”

Purchased for $35,000 as a Keeneland September Yearling and owned by Peter J. Callahan, Swiss Skydiver, who is out of the More Than Ready mare Expo Gold, now has three G1 wins, and an overall mark of 13-7-3-1. With the Beholder winner's share of $180,000, she increased her earnings to $2,025,480.

Ridden by Mike Smith, As Time Goes By rallied five-wide turning for home and bested her stablemate Golden Principal by 1 ¾ lengths while never threatening the winner. The second choice in the wagering at 9-5, As Time Goes By paid $3.40 and $2.80.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Golden Principal did the heavy lifting early and tired late, but finished 2 ½ lengths clear of Harvest Moon. Off at 7-1, Golden Principal paid $3.40 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.14, 46.80, 1:11.19 and 1:23.54.

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Swiss Skydiver Doesn’t ‘Miss’ A Beat In Beholder Mile

After a disappointing effort when last seen in the Nov. 7 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil)returned to the brilliant form that earned her an Eclipse Award last season with a good-looking score in her seasonal bow Saturday at Santa Anita in the GI Beholder Mile. It was her second win from as many starts in Arcadia, having captured last term's GII Santa Anita Oaks.

Away in good order from her rail draw, the 7-5 chalk secured a comfortable position ina ground-saving fourth as Golden Principal (Constitution) hustled up to take control with Harvest Moon (Uncle Mo) keeping her honest in second through a :23.14 opening quarter. Inching up inside of Harvest Moon as the half-mile went in :46.80, the chestnut patiently awaited racing room on the backstretch run and split the top two to make a race of it turning for home. Pouncing on Golden Principal in early stretch, Swiss Skydiver “waved goodbye,” as announcer Frank Mirahmadi said, powering clear under a hand ride from Robby Albarado to win as she pleased by 2 3/4 lengths. The regally bred As Time Goes By (American Pharoah–Take Charge Lady) took the overland route to be second and her pacesetting stablemate Golden Principal held third.

“Pretty much up the backside, every point I felt like she was right there with me the whole way,” Albarado said. “She was taking deep breaths around there. When I finally gave her some room there she took off. It was all her, I was just a passenger…I look forward for the rest of the year with her.”
“Yes, she met expectations, but you never know,” said trainer Ken McPeek, who has been at Santa Anita since Swiss Skydiver shipped in from her Gulfstream Park base Tuesday. “The distance for me was a little bit of a worry because of the run to the first turn. But Robby does know her so well, to get her in :12s, just get her into a nice rhythm and let her make her run. You can't force anything with her, and if you go too fast early, she will wilt a little bit.”

Swiss Skydiver's won five of her 10 starts in her Eclipse-winning sophomore season, all at different racetracks. Her first victory of the season came in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks last March and followed suit with a win in Oaklawn's GIII Fantasy S. in May. Wiring the Santa Anita Oaks last June, the $35,000 KEESEP buy took on males for the first time in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. in July and finished a respectable second to Art Collector (Bernardini).

Cruising home to a clear-cut victory in Saratoga's prestigious GI Alabama S. last August, Swiss Skydiver checked in second to Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in the GI Kentucky Oaks Sept. 4. Trainer Kenny McPeek was confident enough to send his star filly on to the GI Preakness S. Oct. 3 and she rewarded his and owner Peter Callahan's faith with a gritty score of GI Kentucky Derby winner and now Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief). Installed as the second choice in the Distaff at Keeneland, Swiss Skydiver stumbled at the start and never really got into the race, finishing seventh to two-time champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar).

Pedigree Notes:

Swiss Skydiver completed a cross-country graded double for her young sire Daredevil, following Shedaresthedevil's win in the GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn. Those two fillies from the new Lane's End sire's first crop are his only two Grade I/graded winners thus far and are two of five black-type winners for the stallion, who recently returned to Kentucky after spending a year in Turkey. Swiss Skydiver is also one of 20 graded victors and 45 black-type scorers out of a daughter of Johannesburg.

The winner's dam Expo Gold brought just $13,000 from Los Santos Customs her first time through the Keeneland November ring in 2017, carrying Swiss Skydiver's full-brother. The resulting colt, the now 3-year-old Inspector General, fetched just $4,000 from Southern Racing at Keeneland September the following year. Expo Gold's next auction appearance was at the 2019 CTBA January Mixed Sale, selling to Blue Chip Thoroughbreds for $15,000 in foal to Danzing Candy. She produced that colt the following April and failed to get back in foal to that California stallion. The 13-year-old mare returned to the Keeneland November ring last term, but this time she summoned $950,000 from Hunter Valley Farm, while carrying a foal from the first crop of GI Travers S. winner Catholic Boy. Two of her daughters sold at the same auction with her first foal Is It Gold (Indygo Shiner) bringing $230,000 from Titletown Racing Stables in foal to Nyquist; and her 2016 foal Miss Hot Legs (Verrazano) hammering for $500,000 to Coteau Grove Farms.

Saturday, Santa Anita
BEHOLDER MILE S.-GI, $301,000, Santa Anita, 3-13, 4yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:36.18, ft.
1–SWISS SKYDIVER, 124, f, 4, by Daredevil
                1st Dam: Expo Gold, by Johannesburg
                2nd Dam: Clouds of Gold, by Strike the Gold
                3rd Dam: Cloudy Colors, by Personal Flag
($35,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Peter J. Callahan; B-WinStar Farm,
LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Robby Albarado. $180,000.
Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo Filly, 13-7-3-1, $2,025,480. *1/2 to
Miss Hot Legs (Verrazano), SP, $151,620. Werk Nick Rating: A.
   Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–As Time Goes By, 120, f, 4, by American Pharoah
                1st Dam: Take Charge Lady (Broodmare Of The Year,
                                MGISW, $2,480,377), by Dehere
                2nd Dam: Felicita, by Rubiano
                3rd Dam: Grand Bonheur, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
O-Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale
& Chelston (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $60,000.
3–Golden Principal, 120, f, 4, by Constitution
                1st Dam: Gold D' Medaglia, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Lemon Twist, by Seeking the Gold
                3rd Dam: Danzig Island, by Danzig
($35,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR).
O-Karl Watson, Michael Pegram & Paul Weitman; B-CESA Farm
(FL); T-Bob Baffert. $36,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 1.40, 1.90, 7.20.
Also Ran: Harvest Moon, This Tea, Clockstrikestwelve, Miss Stormy D. Scratched: Sanenus (Chi).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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McPeek Hoping For Repeat Of ‘Magical Season’ With Swiss Skydiver

Swiss Skydiver, Eclipse Award champion three-year-old filly of 2020, makes her four-year-old debut Saturday at Santa Anita in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile

Owned by Peter Callahan and bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, the daughter of Daredevil upset Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Authentic at 11-1 in last year's Preakness Stakes before an eventful seventh in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland last Nov. 7, her most recent race.

“There were limited options where we are,” trainer Ken McPeek said in explaining a coast-to-coast trip from Florida to start her campaign.

“There really wasn't an older filly and mare stake in Florida and I've got my other filly, Envoutante, at Oaklawn (for Saturday's Grade 2 Azeri Stakes). I didn't want to run against each other.”

Envoutante, handy six-length winner of the Grade 2 Falls City at Churchill Downs in her most recent start last Nov. 26, also was nominated to the Beholder. Like Swiss Skydiver in the Beholder, Envoutante (“bewitching” in English) also drew the rail in the Azeri, where she is 5-2 on the morning line vs. four rivals.

“Obviously the Beholder is a great race and I think Swiss Skydiver is capable of running a flat mile,” McPeek said. “She's really sharp now, so that's good, and the timing works out well.”

Robby Albarado, who piloted Swiss Skydiver to her Preakness victory, arrived in California Tuesday to ride the chestnut filly in the Beholder, while McPeek got in town Thursday. Swiss Skydiver arrived Tuesday night.

With an Eclipse Award, two Grade I victories including the Alabama Stakes along with the Preakness, a four-length romp in the Santa Anita Oaks and five graded stakes wins on her resume last year, Swiss Skydiver exceeded McPeek's expectations.

“In her first stakes race last year (fifth in a restricted outing at Tampa Bay Downs Jan. 18) she kind of had a troubled trip (going five-wide and floating out while beaten less than a length at seven furlongs), but since then she rolled on.

“It was unfortunate she stumbled (at the start) in the Breeders' Cup (finishing seventh behind Older Dirt Female champion Monomoy Girl) and cut her leg up pretty good.

“But she bounced back from that. It was a magical season for the most part.

“Hopefully, we can come half that close this year.”

The Beholder, race eight of nine with a 12:30 p.m. first post time: Swiss Skydiver, Robby Albarado, 8-5; Golden Principal, Juan Hernandez, 8-1; Harvest Moon, Flavien Prat, 5-2; Sanenus, Umberto Rispoli, 4-1; Miss Stormy D, Tyler Baze, 20-1; As Time Goes By, Mike Smith, 4-1; This Tea, Abel Cedillo, 30-1; and Clockstrikestwelve, Tiago Pereira, 20-1.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Laurel Park: Derby Points On The Line In Arkansas

A million-dollar purse and Kentucky Derby qualifying points are on the line in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park as it offers points on a 50-20-10-5 basis to the top four finishers. The Rebel is among five stakes races to be run Saturday at Oaklawn on a card that also features champion Whitmore making his seasonal debut in the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes.

Swiss Skydiver, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2020 and No. 6 ranked horse on the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, is also set to be in action as she makes her 4-year-old debut live on TVG in Saturday's Grade 1 Beholder Mile.

The Rebel will be televised live on TVG. It will also be shown on NYRA's YouTube channel and on the Fox Sports app as part of the America's Day at the Races telecast.

America's Day at the Races, presented by Claiborne Farm and America's Best Racing, will air on FS1 and FS2 Saturday and Sunday showing races from Aqueduct, Oaklawn Park and other tracks.

In addition to racing from Santa Anita and Oaklawn Park, TVG will feature racing from Gulfstream 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.

Saturday, March 13

1:28 p.m.–$100,000 Beyond The Wire Stakes at Laurel Park

After five wins in a row, Lucky 7 Stables' Street Lute will try something new when she puts her streak on the line in Saturday's $100,000 Beyond the Wire Saturday at Laurel Park. A neck loss in the Maryland Million Lassie last fall remains the only blemish on Street Lute's resume. She has since reeled off wins in the Smart Halo, Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship and Gin Talking en route to being voted Maryland's champion 2-year-old filly of 2020, and the Xtra Heat and Wide Country so far in 2021.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRL031321USA3-EQB.html

2:27 p.m.–$75,000 Not For Love Stakes at Laurel Park

Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber and Black Cloud Racing Stable's Whereshetoldmetogo, winner of back-to-back stakes to end his 2020 campaign, returns looking to make it three in a row in Saturday's $75,000 Not For Love. Now trained by Brittany Russell, 6-year-old Whereshetoldmetogo is a six-time stakes winner with $541,291 in purse earnings. Four of his stakes wins have come from six starts at Laurel – the 2018 Concern and Star de Naskra and 2020 Frank Y. Whiteley and Fire Plug.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRL031321USA5-EQB.html

3:00 p.m.–$100,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial at Laurel Park

Hillwood Stable's Cordmaker, second or third in six of his last seven starts, looks to break through with a return to his multiple stakes-winning form in Saturday's $100,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial at Laurel Park. Cordmaker's resume shows eight wins, four in stakes, thirds in the historic Pimlico Special (G3) in 2019 and 2020 and a bankroll of more than $500,000 from 27 lifetime starts, but the 6-year-old son of two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Hall of Famer Curlin hasn't won in 10 starts since the DTHA Governors Day Handicap in September 2019.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRL031321USA6-EQB.html

3:03 p.m.—$350,000 Grade 2 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park on FS2 and TVG

Shedaresthedevil, winner of 2020 Kentucky Oaks, will make her seasonal debut in the Azeri Stakes, the final major local prep for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 17. Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil will be making her first start since finishing third in her first race against older horses, the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes October 4 at Keeneland. The daughter of Daredevil had won her previous three starts, including the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks last September 4, where she defeated eventual divisional champion Swiss Skydiver.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP031321USA5-EQB.html

3:34 p.m.–$75,000 Conniver Stakes at Laurel Park

Three Diamonds Farm's Grade 3-placed Kiss the Girl, second last out in her return to stakes competition, will get another shot at becoming a stakes winner in the $75,000 Conniver sprinting seven furlongs Saturday. The Conniver will be the 12^th career start for Kiss the Girl, a 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, and fourth since joining training Mike Trombetta's string. Prior to that she ran twice for Todd Pletcher, finishing second by a neck in the 2019 Schuylerville (G3), and won one of five 2020 starts for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRL031321USA7-EQB.html

4:07 p.m.–$100,000 Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park

Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables' Maythehorsebwithu, who became a stakes winner in dominant fashion last month, will stretch out for his longest race to date off his shortest turnaround yet in Saturday's $100,000 Private Terms at Laurel Park. Maythehorsebwithu returns in 21 days following a four-length triumph in the Miracle Wood, which was rescheduled from Feb. 13 due to inclement weather. Trainer Brittany Russell left the decision to run up to the bay gelding, who breezed a half-mile 48 seconds March 6 at Laurel, third-fastest of 60 horses.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRL031321USA8-EQB.html

5:45 p.m.—$200,000 Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park on FS2 and TVG

Whitmore, the champion male sprinter of 2020, will be making his seasonal debut in the Hot Springs Stakes where he will attempt to win the six-furlong test for a fifth consecutive year. The 8-year-old gelding used his famed kick to capture the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland last November en route to earning the Eclipse Award for divisional honors. Trained by Ron Moquett, Whitmore first won the Hot Springs Stakes in 2017.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP031321USA10-EQB.html

6:16 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on TVG

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert bids for an eighth Rebel victory when he sends out unbeaten Concert Tour and recent maiden graduate Hozier in Saturday's $1 million race. Concert Tour, who will be making his two-turn debut in the Rebel, broke his maiden January 15 at Santa Anita and won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes February 6 at Santa Anita Park. Among Concert Tour's top rivals in the Rebel are Caddo River, winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn on January 22, and Keepmeinmind, who captured the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP031321USA11-EQB.html

6:46 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Bob and Jackie would appear to rate a big chance cutting back in distance for Richard Baltas as he faces sharp recent winner Gregorian Chant, defending champ Cistron and Jolie Olimpica (BRZ), who will be facing males for the first time in North America in Saturday's San Simeon Stakes. Bob and Jackie has won four out of his 10 lifetime starts and will be sprinting for the first time since his debut at age two in 2018 when he was a close second going 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita's hillside turf course.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA031321USA7-EQB.html

7:20 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Swiss Skydiver, the reigning champion 3-year-old filly, is poised to make her 2021 debut as she heads a field of eight older fillies and mares in Saturday's Beholder Mile. Trained by Kenny McPeek and owned by Peter J. Callahan, Swiss Skydiver, who defeated males in the Preakness Stakes, has been idle since running seventh in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland last November. The daughter of Daredevil was impressive in her lone Santa Anita appearance, going gate to wire while taking the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks by four lengths last June 6.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA031321USA8-EQB.html

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