Swiss Skydiver sprung a mild upset Saturday with a wire-to-wire victory in the Gulfstream Park Oaks, earning points towards a start in the GI Kentucky Oaks in September. Seizing the early advantage, the 9-1 shot cruised through opening splits of :24.33 and :49.12, shadowed by Lucrezia. Showing the way into the lane, the chestnut kept on finding in the lane, pulling clear of her competition to win as she pleased. Lucrezia gamely fended off a late challenge from Lake Avenue to be second. Previously unbeaten favorite Tonalist's Shape (Tonalist) finished sixth.
“We've had a really hard time getting this filly to two turns,” said winning trainer Ken McPeek. “It always seemed like the timing was off on everything. We finally got her in the Rachel Alexandra in New Orleans, where she hooked a couple of really tough ones, and she needed the experience. We were almost five weeks in between races and this was real good timing. She'd been in Florida a while already, so she was real prepared for this.”
A decisive debut winner at Churchill Downs in November, Swiss Skydiver finished second in an optional claimer in the slop there two weeks later. Fifth in Tampa's Gasparilla S. Jan. 18, she was third last time in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at Fair Grounds Feb. 15.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
FASIG-TIPTON GULFSTREAM PARK OAKS-GII, $200,000, Gulfstream, 3-28, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:43.54, ft.
1–SWISS SKYDIVER, 122, f, 3, by Daredevil
1st Dam: Expo Gold, by Johannesburg
2nd Dam: Clouds of Gold, by Strike the Gold</strong
3rd Dam: Cloudy Colors, by Personal Flag
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($35,000 Ylg
'18 KEESEP). O-Peter J. Callahan; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY);
T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Paco Lopez. $115,320. Lifetim
Record: 5-2-1-1, $197,980. *3rd black-type winner, 2nd
graded winner for sire. Werk Nick Rating: B.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lucrezia, 122, f, 3, Into Mischief–Verdana Bold, by Rahy.
O-Edward A. Seltzer & Beverly S. Anderson; B-Edward A.
Seltzer, Beverly Anderson & Krista Seltzer (KY); T-Arnaud
Delacour. $37,200.
3–Lake Avenue, 122, f, 3, Tapit–Seventh Street, by Street Cry
(Ire). O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott.
$18,600.
Margins: 3 1/4, NO, HF. Odds: 9.10, 4.90, 5.90.
Also Ran: Bajan Girl, Spice Is Nice, Dream Marie, Tonalist's Shape, Spartanka, Mrs. S, Inveterate, Sunset Promise, Addilyn. Scratched: Four Grands, Marialuisa. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Pedigree Notes:
Swiss Skydiver is the second graded winner and third stakes winner from the first crop of Daredevil, who was recently exported to Turkey after starting his stud career at WinStar. Expo Gold produced a full-brother to the winner in 2018 and had a Danzing Candy colt last year. She was bred back to that young California stallion.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
