Sweet Swap wheels right back in Friday sprint
DEL MAR, Calif. – It is unusual for trainer John Sadler to run a horse back in just 13 days, especially one who just ran in the Breeders’ Cup. But with the opportunities for turf sprinters limited at this time of year on this circuit, Sadler is quickly wheeling back Sweet Swap for the featured second race Friday at Del Mar, a $65,000 allowance race at five furlongs.
Sweet Swap ran a deceptively good race in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, finishing fifth in the field of 14, just one length behind the victorious Bobby’s Kitten, after starting from an inside post position. It was his first start since April.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Sweet Swap. Trainer John Sadler is 30-3-5-5 with $0.55 ROI over the past five years in turf sprints at Del Mar. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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There is no turf course at Los Alamitos, where racing is conducted on this circuit the first part of December, so for Sadler to keep Sweet Swap in turf sprints, he has to run during Del Mar or sit on the horse until Santa Anita opens for its main meeting Dec. 26.
“I normally wouldn’t run a horse so close back, but he had had a lot of time off before the Breeders’ Cup, and he came out of the race in really good shape,” Sadler said Wednesday. “These races don’t come along too often.”
There are only five entered in the race, but it’s a strong field, with every contestant a stakes winner.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sweet Swap (Last 3 Beyers: 96-97-96)
◗ One of the elite turf sprinters on this circuit, he won the San Simeon and Joe Hernandez on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita this year. He has won 5 of 11 on turf.
◗ He had a dreadful, traffic-filled trip the lone time he sprinted on the turf here, in August 2012.
◗ He is a full brother to Sidney’s Candy.
◗ Sadler said his performance Friday could determine whether he stays in training for next year or heads to stud.
Bahamian Squall (Last 3 Beyers: 92-98-70)
◗ A longtime stalwart in Florida, he has been transferred to trainer Mark Casse and will be trying turf for the first time in a career that has spanned 21 starts.
◗ He comes off an excellent runner-up effort behind Chitu in the Damascus Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 31.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Bahamian Squall. Trainer Mark Casse is 6-3-0-1 with a $7.73 ROI over the past five years with new stock trying turf for the first time. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Distinctiv Passion (Last 3 Beyers: 89-84-102)
◗ He has crossed the wire first in both his starts on this turf course, but he was disqualified from one of those victories for interference.
◗ This will be his second start off a layoff.
◗ His speed is particularly effective at this distance.
Ankeny Hill (Last 3 Beyers: 89-92-96)
◗ The only horse in this race capable of keeping up early with Distinctiv Passion, he won twice on Polytrack here during the summer and was second in his lone start on this course.
Global Power (Last 3 Beyers: 43-64-94)
◗ He has faded badly in his last two starts, but with blinkers coming off this time, it would not be surprising to see a clever jockey like Kent Desormeaux grab him at the start and try to sit and finish.