4th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 1-29, 3yo, 7f, 1:24.53, ft, 1 1/4 lengths.
SWING SHIFT (c, 3, Midnight Storm–Tasunke, by Indian Charlie) and GIII Iroquois S. fourth Bourbon Heist (Practical Joke) were nigh inseparable by the betting public up until the gates opened for the former's career debut; the latter ultimately ending up the slimmest of 5-2 favorites. With first-time Lasix for his unveiling, Swing Shift broke fast from the outside slot and took command going up the backstretch with a stubborn challenger in stablemate and fellow firster Congressman (Constitution) glued to his outside. Dueling through fractions of :22.92 and :46.73 into the far turn, last year's $550,000 OBS April procurement (:20 4/5) turned his longtime shadow away late while drifting in the lane and held off fast-closing charges led by Bourbon Heist to graduate by 1 1/4 length. It was another neck back to Positive Review (Unified), who was forced to steady in mid stretch. The winner is his dam's second foal and second winner as well as being her final reported offspring when Tasunke came up barren in 2020 after visiting Mshawish. Swing Shift was the most expensive of 30 juveniles to switch hands by Midnight Storm in the ring last year. The result stood after a stewards inquiry and a trainer objection from Saffie Joseph, Jr. (trainer of Positive Review) involving the stretch run. Sales history: $180,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-WinStar Farm LLC, Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC, CMNWLTH and Siena Farm LLC; B-Siena Farms LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
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