Fair Grounds shippers square off in Swale Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Though they’ve been running in the same circles in Kentucky and Louisiana, Legalize and Risk It had to come to Florida to meet for the first time.

Legalize and Risk It, both in from Fair Grounds, head a field of 3-year-olds set to run seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park in Saturday’s $125,000 Swale Stakes, a race that has already lost one key contender.

Bentornato, a three-time stakes winner at Gulfstream, will scratch from the Swale to run in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby on Feb. 24 in Riyadh, trainer Jose D’Angelo said on Wednesday. That leaves a field of eight for the Swale, which is now run as a listed stakes.

Legalize, a son of Constitution trained by Cherie DeVaux, has won his last two starts, including a maiden going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs and the Sugar Bowl Stakes going six furlongs at Fair Grounds. DeVaux said she picked out this spot due to having limited options and because she thinks Legalize will fit the Gulfstream main track.

“He seems to do his best running toward the front of the pack. His running style should suit the Gulfstream track,” she said.

In the Sugar Bowl, Legalize was three wide and part of a hot pace battle, but “when he made his run, he passed those horses nicely and kept to task,” DeVaux said.

:: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports

The Donegal Clan, fourth in the Sugar Bowl, did come back to win an allowance race next out with a career-best 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

Luis Saez rides Legalize.

Risk It represents trainer Steve Asmussen’s third starter at Gulfstream since Gun Runner won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup here in 2018. Risk It is a son of Gun Runner who won his debut sprinting at Saratoga last August before finishing second to West Saratoga in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes going a one-turn mileat Churchill in September.

When tried around two turns, Risk It finished fourth in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club and fifth in the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds. Thus, Asmussen is cutting Risk It back in distance.

“Very talented horse that I think wants to go one turn,” Asmussen said. “I like how he’s training and still think he has a lot of talent.”

Tyler Gaffalione rides Risk It.

Colorado Cruiser was based with trainer Luis Mendez in Southern California when he won a six-furlong maiden race on opening day of the Santa Park winter meet. That came after losses to the Bob Baffert-trained pair of Nysos and Coach Prime.

Colorado Cruiser is now with trainer Jack Sisterson, who said he is taking blinkers off the horse for the Swale despite the win last out.

“If we can harness his speed and get him to relax and carry it we’re better off taking the blinkers off,” said Sisterson, who has Oisin Murphy named to ride.

Billal, third behind 2-year-old champion Fierceness in a Saratoga maiden race, is cutting back in distance after an eighth-place finish in the Grade 2 Remsen going 1 1/8 miles.

Grand Mo the First, a son of Uncle Mo, is switching surfaces after making his first three starts on turf or synthetic. Squints, a Florida-bred stakes winner, Frankie’s Empire, and Le Dom Bro complete the field.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.