Swingn' Notes captures Corte Madera

ALBANY, Calif. - Swingn' Notes ($18) outdueled Secret Corsage down the lane to win the $61,100 Corte Madera Stakes on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

Secret Corsage went for the lead after Very Vegas, who figured to be the pacesetter, was scratched in the morning. She set an honest pace ahead of favored Renaissance Lady but wouldn't rate for rider Ron Warren Jr. and then couldn't hold off Swingn' Notes in the lane.

Swingn' Notes covered the mile in 1:37.76 to win by three-quarters of a length.

Renaissance Lady edged Church Editor by a nose for third another 1 1/4 lengths back but was disqualified and placed fourth for coming out in the lane and bothering Church Editor.

Swingn' Notes, trained by Bud Klokstad, earned $33,650 to lift her career total to $67,494 with two wins, three seconds and two thirds in eight starts for Johnny and Ruth Lewis.

"She's a game filly," said winning jockey Chad Schvaneveldt, who rode Swingn' Notes to victory in a 1/16-mile maiden turf race in her previous start.

"She didn't want to settle early. She was really on the bit, but she finally settled down the backstretch when I got her outside. When it got time to go, I dropped her back toward the fence, and she picked it up nice."

Schvaneveldt said that the added distance has helped the filly.

"In the morning, you wouldn't think she was this kind of filly, but I told Bud when she was going short, she'd be better going two turns. She was going against fillies like Bending Strings going short and couldn't handle them.

"I'm sure winning pumped her up a bit, but I think it was more going a route of ground."