Improving Misremembered takes Swaps

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Just when lucrative opportunities for 3-year-olds on the main track are drawing to a close in Southern California, Misremembered seems to have figured out racing.

On Saturday at Hollywood Park, Misremembered won his first stakes in the . The Grade 2 Swaps is the final two-turn graded stakes of the year on the main track for 3-year-olds in Southern California. The graded stakes schedule for the rest of the year is dominated by turf races and one-turn events.

Regardless, Misremembered is developing into a promising 3-year-old for George Jacobs and owner-trainer Bob Baffert. A ridgling, Misremembered led throughout the Swaps Stakes under jockey Victor Espinoza, holding off a sustained threat from 3-5 favorite Grazen to win the 1 1/8 mile race by 1 3/4 lengths.

"He's getting better and will get better with age," Baffert said. "It looks like distance is not a problem."

Baffert was delighted to see Misremembered set a slow early pace 24.44 and 49.18 seconds, leading by as much as 1 1/2 lengths on the backstretch. "I told Victor to get him in a nice easy mode," Baffert said. "He beat them to the punch."

Grazen, who was pressured on the backstretch and again on the final turn by Conservative, moved to within almost a length of Misremembered in the stretch, but got no closer. Grazen won the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap on the lead in June, and trainer Mike Mitchell wanted jockey Rafael Bejarano to employ those same tactics in the Swaps.

"I know I've got enough speed to go head-to-head with him, that's all," Mitchell said.

Scorewithcater, third or fourth for the first six furlongs, finished third in the field of seven. Scorewithcater won the Borderland Derby over eventual Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird at Sunland Park in February.

Misremembered, by Candy Ride, has won 3 of 5 starts and $259,200. He was second to Grazen in the Affirmed Handicap in his stakes debut.

Evita Argentina wins at favorite distance

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Seven-furlong races are defining Evita Argentina's career.

In Saturday's at Hollywood Park, Evita Argentina won her third seven-furlong stakes, rallying from last in a field of nine to win by two lengths over Silver Swallow.

The victory led trainer John Sadler to list the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint over seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Nov. 6 as a long-term goal.

"I'm hoping she'll be nice and strong for the Breeders' Cup," Sadler said.

Evita Argentina became the first 3-year-old to win the A Gleam Handicap since Honeymoon in 1946. Back then, the race was known as the Sequoia Handicap.

"You usually don't run 3-year-olds against older at this time of year," Sadler said. "She's a seven-furlong specialist."

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Evita Argentina ($9.20) ran the distance in 1:21.80. Rosario kept Evita Argentina last for the first half-mile before launching a five-wide rally on the turn. Fourth with a furlong remaining, Evita Argentina took the lead in the final sixteenth.

Silver Swallow closed from eighth to finish second, a head in front of the 3-year-old Lady Lumberjack. Coco Belle, the 5-2 favorite, set the pace of 22.18 and 44.78 seconds, but faded in the final furlong to finish sixth.

Evita Argentina has won 5 of 10 starts and $431,400 for Three Sisters Thoroughbreds and breeder Ted Aroney's Halo Farms. She won the seven-furlong Moccasin Stakes here last November and beat males over that distance in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita in February.

Sadler said Evita Argentina will make her next start in the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar on Sept. 4.