Grey Swallow captures Jim Murray Memorial

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Grey Swallow's easy win in Saturday's $250,000 at Hollywood Park was little more than a trial for the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 10.

The winner of the 2004 Irish Derby, Grey Swallow made his U.S. debut in the Grade 2 Murray, and overwhelmed four rivals. Ridden by Alex Solis, Grey Swallow tracked pacesetter Brecon Beacon and pulled clear when roused in early stretch to win by five lengths.

Solis swept the three graded stakes on Saturday's program, winning the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap with Surf Cat and the Grade 3 with Siren Lure.

Grey Swallow ($3.20) finished 1 1-2 miles on turf in 2:27.33.

"I thought he'd win, that's why we're here," said trainer Dermot Weld, who flew in from Ireland. "He trained well and worked well and I expected him to do what he did."

The race's status was diminished by the withdrawal on Friday of King's Drama, the winner of the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Handicap at Santa Anita in March. Trainer Bobby Frankel said he was unhappy with topweight of 122 pounds.

Frankel's decision to pull King's Drama from the race left Grey Swallow as the 121-pound starting highweight and a heavy favorite. The victory was Grey Swallow's first since the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland last May.

Brecon Beacon ran the best race of his career to finish second. Brecon Beacon set slow early fractions of 25.99 and 51.47 and could not keep pace with Grey Swallow in the stretch.

"We decided to stay handy with a small field," Weld said.

Brecon Beacon finished a length in front of defending champion Runaway Dancer. Trained by Dan Hendricks Runaway Dancer needed a quicker pace to aid his late rally. Golden Rahy and One Off completed the order of finish. Macduff, who would have been a longshot, was scratched early Saturday.

Grey Swallow, who races for a partnership, has won 6 of 13 starts and $1,580,786. The Manhattan Handicap is run at 1 1-4 miles on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

*Siren Lure ($12.40) rallied through traffic in the stretch to win his fifth stakes in the last year. The $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap is the only graded stakes win in that span.

Trained by Art Sherman for a partnership, Siren Lure ran six furlongs in 1:08.57, closing from seventh to finish a length in front of Areyoutalkintome, the 9-5 favorite. Prorunner finished third after setting an early pace of 21.89 and 44.24 seconds.

Solis moved Siren Lure to the outside of the pacesetters in the stretch and took the lead in the final furlong. He was four lengths off the pace entering the stretch.

Siren Lure, who was claimed for $50,000 in May 2005, has won 10 of 18 starts and $409,909.