Solis wises up and Arson Squad scores

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The , it seems, is where Alex Solis gets it right.

For the second straight year, the veteran jockey was critical of his ride three weeks earlier in the Affirmed Handicap, then made adjustments that brought glory to himself and trainer Bruce Headley in the Swaps.

Last year, the duo connected in the Swaps with Surf Cat after a second-place finish in the Affirmed, and they prevailed again on Saturday at Hollywood Park with Arson Squad, who won the 33rd running of the Swaps by rallying to nail Point Determined and A. P. Warrior in the Grade 2, $354,515 stakes race for 3-year-olds.

Arson Squad ($6.80), the third choice in the field of four, wore down Point Determined to win by one length, with A. P. Warrior another eight lengths back in third. Potential trailed. Arson Squad completed 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:48.45.

The victory was the third in six starts for Arson Squad, a Brahms gelding owned by Mace and Samatha Siegel's Jay Em Ess Stable. He most recently had finished third in the Affirmed, 1 1/2 lengths behind Point Determined and A.P. Warrior.

"Last time I think he could have won," Solis said. "I felt I rode a bad race. I saved a little too much, and I think I let the other horses get too far away. Today, I was in a much better spot."

Arson Squad was last early, then moved up to third before a half-mile had been run, but was never more than 2 1/2 lengths behind a rapid pace set by A. P. Warrior, who was being hounded by Point Determined. After fractions of 23.33 seconds, 46.10, and 1:09.85 for the first six furlongs, Point Determined moved past a tiring A. P. Warrior, but Arson Squad immediately challenged him.

Arson Squad was purchased as a yearling in July 2004 by Samantha Siegel and her family's advisor, Don Devine, for $100,000 at Fasig-Tipton. Headley said Arson Squad was gelded after he started training, but before he first raced.

Headley said he was not sure where Arson Squad would run next. Last year, he ran Surf Cat against older horses in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

"It's pretty hard to have a 3-year-old run against older horses," he said.