Swiss Skydiver in final work for Apple Blossom

Trainer Kenny McPeek said Monday he is making preparations to send Swiss Skydiver to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on April 17 after the 3-year-old filly champion of 2020 was sent through her second breeze since she captured her 4-year-old debut, the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 13. Swiss Skydiver went a half-mile in 48 seconds early Saturday at Churchill.

McPeek had considered waiting for the Grade 1 La Troienne on the April 30 Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill before opting for the $1 million Apple Blossom.

Up goes Frazier’s number

Joe Frazier, a 3-year-old Distorted Humor colt who defeated stablemate Warrant and gave trainer Brad Cox a one-two finish in a seven-furlong allowance Saturday, is the second Thoroughbred named for the late boxing champion.

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The first was Joe Frazier, a foal of 1967 bred in Maryland by Peter Fuller of Dancer’s Image and Mom’s Command fame. That earlier version of Joe Frazier was sired by Quadrangle and won nine of 44 starts, including the Pelleteri at Fair Grounds and the Vertex at Bowie, both in 1971, when Frazier the boxer was at his career peak.