Remington Park: Sword Trick has much in his favor for Clever Trevor

Sword Trick might be stepping up in both class and distance for Friday night’s $100,000 Clever Trevor at Remington Park, but he still is the one to beat in the seven-furlong race for 2-year-olds. Sword Trick was a romping winner of a restricted stakes in his last start, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 92 that he earned is the best career number in the Clever Trevor.

Friday night’s race is the middle leg of Remington’s series for 2-year-olds that concludes with the $300,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 10. Alsvid, who won the first leg, the $75,000 Kip Deville, returns in the Clever Trevor, and the field of 10 also includes Isn’t He Clever, an undefeated son of Smarty Jones shipping in from New Mexico for trainer Henry Dominguez, and Officer Prado, a maiden special weight winner at Saratoga.

But the role of favorite should belong to Sword Trick. He has won 3 of 4 starts by a combined 25 lengths, is unbeaten at one turn, and can boast more stakes wins than any of his rivals with two. Both stakes scores were against restricted company, in divisions of the $100,000 Texas Stallion Stakes. Sword Trick won the six-furlong division at Retama Park in his last start Sept. 24, when he cruised by 13 lengths in 1:10.40. Friday, he will face open-company rivals in the Clever Trevor.

“That’s a question, stepping up in class, taking on open horses,” said Bret Calhoun, who trains Sword Trick. “But the way he’s run, the numbers he’s received, he looks like a horse that should be very competitive in open company. I think he definitely belongs with this group.”

Calhoun also feels Sword Trick will fit at seven furlongs Friday.

“I think he’ll handle that,” he said. “In his one-turn races he’s been very, very good, drawn off in those races.

“I’m pretty optimistic the way the horse is coming into the race and the way he’s continuing to develop. He’s training super. He seems to be getting better and better. He worked sensational the other morning. He’s just continued to develop physically and mentally.”

Cliff Berry has the mount for owner-breeder Clarence Scharbauer Jr.

Alsvid was a powerful winner of the Kip Deville on Oct. 7, when he scorched the opening half-mile of the six-furlong race in 43.60 seconds and went on to win in 1:09. Alsvid is a well-bred sort, as his dam, Reagle Mary, is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Buddy Gil. Chris Landeros has the mount for trainer Chris Hartman.