Swing and Sway powers to victory in Niagara

The public had trouble settling on a favorite in the $50,000 Niagara Stakes at Finger Lakes on Monday, sending off Clara's Gone West, Swing and Sway, and Tiznow's Smile at 2-1 and Filibustin at 3-1 in the seven-horse field.

But Swing and Sway proved to be in a different league than her rivals, blowing the race open midway through and drawing off to win by 4 3/4 lengths.
Swing and Sway paid $6.70 as the third betting choice in the six-furlong race for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies. She was timed in 1:10.97 over a "good" track.

Tiznow's Smile, the slight favorite, missed the break. She raced far back early, and then was rolling late to finish second, two lengths ahead of the maiden Downtown At Noon, who was third after racing second-to-last early.

Swing and Sway attended the fast early pace three wide as Clara's Gone West showed the way on a short lead through an opening quarter-mile in 21.84 with Filibustin to her outside. Jockey Harry Hernandez sent Swing and Sway to a clear lead early on the far turn and the race was essentially over.

Swing and Sway held a clear lead as she swung into the stretch while racing well out in the track following a half-mile in 45.17, and then increased her margin to the wire.

Clara's Gone West, who was undefeated in three starts, tired to finish last. Filibustin, who was making her first start since December, finished fifth.

In her lone start at 2, Swing and Sway finished fifth in a statebred Saratoga maiden race. She made three starts at Oaklawn Park over the winter, winning a maiden race and a first-level optional-claiming race.

Trainere Ron Moquett sent her to Belmont Park for the May 29 Bouwerie, but she broke outward from post 1 and bumped a rival in the 10-horse field of New York-breds, then tired to finish eighth after stalking the pace to the stretch.

Swing and Sway, a daughter of Maclean's Music who is owned by Westrock Stables, is now3 for 6 with earnings of $139,890.