Spawr continues to shine with claims

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Bill Spawr has a long history of claiming horses and turning them into stakes winners. Risky Proposition, who won the Let It Ride on Saturday, is the latest addition to a list that includes Exchange, My Sonny Boy, Restage, Sensational Star, and Skye Diamonds.

“I never get tired of it,” Spawr said. “They’re like little kids to me. It’s fun seeing how they mature and develop.”

Spawr said the biggest change with Risky Prosposition since he claimed him during the summer has been “mentally.”

“He was a difficult horse. He was challenging at first,” Spawr said. “He wanted to stop and go when he wanted to, not when the rider commanded.”

Spawr said Risky Prosposition was “in good shape when we got him, we just caught him at the right time.”

He thinks Risky Prospostion can continue to improve. Risky Proposition won going a mile Saturday, “but I think he’ll like something like a mile and a quarter,” Spawr said.

“The farther he goes, the better he’ll be,” Spawr said.

Spawr has one runner in on Friday, the first-time starter Caecilius in race 3, a five-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-old maidens.

A gelding by Exchange Rate, Caecilius held his own when working with the older stakes-class sprinter Calculator in a gate drill on the dirt Sunday morning when he was timed going 48.40 seconds for a half-mile.

◗ Jockey Kent Desormeaux was fined $300 by Del Mar’s stewards for misuse of the whip when winning the second race Sunday. He was cited for illegally hitting his mount, Dancing Belle, between the ears in deep stretch.