Swept Overboard sweeps by Kona Gold

ARCADIA, Calif. - Before Saturday, California owner Paul Reddam was uncertain if he would attend the Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park on Oct. 27. "I was just hoping to get a ticket," Reddam said.

Reddam booked his trip on Saturday after Swept Overboard, who carried 116 pounds, upset 127-pound highweight Kona Gold in the $207,100 Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Handicap, a key prep to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint. Swept Overboard ($9.20) closed from last in the six-horse field to win by 2 1-2 lengths, finishing six furlongs in a quick 1:07.67. A 4-year-old, Swept Overboard won his first Grade 1 stakes in the Ancient Title, ending a three-race losing streak in graded sprint stakes in California.

The race set up well for a closer. Freespool set a torrid pace of 21.26 and 43.45 seconds, leading by 2 1-2 lengths at the quarter pole. Freespool had a length in midstretch but was caught by Kona Gold in the final furlong. Sent off at 1-5, Kona Gold led to the sixteenth pole, but was passed by Swept Overboard, who rallied wide under Eddie Delahoussaye.

"When I saw the fractions, I thought I was okay," said Craig Dollase, who trains Swept Overboard. "He tends to run his best races from off the pace."

I Love Silver finished third, followed by Forest Camp, Freespool and Lexicon.

The runner-up finish marked Kona Gold's first loss in seven starts, a winning streak that dated back to April 2000 and included the 2000 Ancient Title and Breeders' Cup Sprint.

"He carried a lot of weight," said Kona Gold's trainer, Bruce Headley. "The other horse ran a great race."