Nakatani to ride Sweet Swap in BC Turf Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sweet Swap, a two-time stakes winner in turf sprints this year, will be ridden by Corey Nakatani in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

Trainer John Sadler said the decision was made Friday. Nakatani will replace Joe Talamo, who is booked to ride Home Run Kitten in the BC Turf Sprint, run over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

“Nakatani is good on grass,” Sadler said.

Owned by Kosta Hronis, Sweet Swap has won 6 of 12 starts and earned $287,133. Sweet Swap won the Joe Hernandez Stakes in February and the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on April 13, both on the hillside turf course. Those are his only stakes wins.

A 5-year-old horse, Sweet Swap has shown the ability to lead throughout or stalk the pace. Sadler said the layoff is not a concern.

“He runs well fresh,” Sadler said. “I think we’ll be fine.”

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The BC Turf Sprint is expected to have a full field of 14, led by No Nay Never and Reneesgotzip. No Nay Never has won stakes in England, France, and Kentucky in his five-race career. Reneesgotzip, a 5-year-old mare, was third in the 2012 BC Turf Sprint and second last year, losing both races to the now-retired Mizdirection.

On Saturday, Ambitious Brew, the winner of the Sensational Star Stakes for California-breds on the hillside in February, worked five furlongs on turf in 1:00.20. Owned by Pamela Ziebarth and trained by Marty Jones, Ambitious Brew, a 4-year-old gelding, was second as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course Sept. 26, losing by a nose to Home Run Kitten after leading in the final furlong.