Sweet Swap hangs on in San Simeon

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sweet Swap was allowed to set the pace in Sunday’s $101,000 San Simeon Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita, an early advantage that proved to be the difference.

Sweet Swap led by three lengths at the eighth pole, and won the race over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course by a half-length over a fast-closing Lakerville. They were 2 1/2 lengths clear of 18-1 Handsome Mike, who was third.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Sweet Swap ($5.60) set an early pace of 21.74 and 43.61 seconds. He finished in 1:11.59.

“He was pressed the whole way,” Talamo said. “For him to kick away was pretty impressive. We knew Lakerville would be coming. Fortunately, it worked out.”

Sweet Swap and Lakerville were expected to dominate the race. Sweet Swap was a slight favorite over 9-5 Lakerville.

Handsome Mike was followed in the order of finish by Pure Tactics, Artest, Chiloquin, Pataky Kid, Forward March, and Zimmer.

Sweet Swap is owned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler. The Grade 3 San Simeon was the fourth win in the last five starts for Sweet Swap, a full brother to Sidney’s Candy, a millionaire who won the 2010 Santa Anita Derby.

Sweet Swap, a 5-year-old by Candy Ride, won the Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course on Feb. 23, closing from fourth in a field of seven that day. Sadler said on Sunday that he wanted Sweet Swap to be more prominent in the San Simeon.

“We let him run on,” Sadler said.

Sweet Swap has won 6 of 12 starts and $287,133. Sadler said that no plans have been made for Sweet Swap this summer, and that options include turf sprints at Royal Ascot in England in June or a California campaign in which Sweet Swap would be tried over a mile on turf.

The Royal Ascot meeting includes two Group 1 races for sprinters – the King’s Stand and Golden Jubilee. This spring at Santa Anita, the top race for turf milers is the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile on June 14.

“We could run him a mile here or at Del Mar,” he said. “They have been asking us about Royal Ascot and we’ll look and see. We’ve been in contact. I told them not let us miss any (nomination) deadlines.”