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07/14/2012 9:28PM
Hollywood Park: Switch completes graded stakes hat trick for Sadler in A Gleam Handicap
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INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Trainer John Sadler completed a sensational day at Betfair Hollywood Park on Saturday when Switch returned to her best form and rallied to win the Grade 2, $200,000 A Gleam Handicap, which gave Sadler his third graded stakes win on the day.
After running 1-2 in the Grade 3 Hollywood Juvenile Championship with Scherer Magic and Carson’s Crown early in the day, Sadler struck with back-to-back favorites, Lady of Shamrock in the Grade 1 American Oaks and then Switch.
The victory by Switch was significant in that it showed she is still among the elite female sprinters in the country, and it also earned her a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint through the Breeders’ Cup’s Win and You’re In program.
Switch was second in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint each of the last two years at Churchill Downs. One of the reasons owners Lee and Susan Searing kept her in training this year, at age 5, is because this year’s race will be run in her home base of Southern California, at Santa Anita, on Nov. 2.
“Now, we get a Breeders’ Cup at home,” Sadler said. “I love the Win and You’re In. You save a lot of money on entry fees.”
Switch ($6.60) benefited from a contested early pace that enabled her to rally from last in the seven-horse field. She pulled away late to win by 1 3/4 lengths over 9-1 shot Sugarinthemorning, who was 2 1/4 lengths clear of third-place Glamorista.
With Garrett Gomez aboard, Switch completed seven furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:24.37. The track, though rated fast, was quite dull all afternoon as it has been in recent weeks.
“It kind of set up for her today,” Gomez said.
Switch ended an eight-race losing streak dating to March 2011. This was her third start of the year. She was fifth in the Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 5, then fourth in the Desert Stormer here June 17.
“She wasn’t real sharp in her first race, and I thought she needed her last race, so it moved her forward for this one,” Sadler said.
Sadler said Switch would make her next start at Del Mar.
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Got a perfect setup at her favorite distance, but didn't really run all that fast. Only an 88 Beyer, well below her career best wins and it came third off a layoff.
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Lady of Shamrock is the real deal
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Week group in Calif
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Hate to say this but that race was a mockery. The race was set up perfectly for her. Good job switch but ran into junk on the lead. Izzy I believe hasnt shown much on the synthetic so Switch caught a claiming horse down the stretch. I really hope this filly proves me wrong though.
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The pace set-up helped, but the difference in this race was Switch's class. That said, I'm still not sure she's back to the form from the first 8 months of 2011. In races like the La Brea and Santa Monica she was absolutely devastating.
It's always good to see veterans dig down and pull out an important victory. And Switch most certainly has been an honest pro the last 3 years. It's been tough circumstances that she's run 2nd to future Hall of Famers Zenyatta(remember that 2010 Lady's Secret?), Havre de Grace(pushed the HoY to 3/4ths of a length in the 2011 Apple Blossom), and Blind Luck(lost by a half length in the 2011 Vanity). Throw in consecutive runner-up finishes in the 2010 and 2011 Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and it's hard not to see Switch deserving of a race like the A Gleam.
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switch is back!!
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wow! this wasn't a breeders cup field, but it was an impressive come-back. she was much the best. good job bringing her back.
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Best Bets
SLIGO JOE finished third, fourth, or fifth against classier company in each of his last four races. He ran fast enough in his last two starts to beat this type on the plunge from $10,000 optional claiming into this $5,000 N1Y field. LATCH LIGHTING only finished fifth as the favorite at this class level last time. He should be a factor today, but he seems more likely to contend in the minor exotic slots than he is to beat this field. STEALTH HERO ran a dull race when he beat just one opponent here on a muddy track in his last race.
