Swiss Skydiver has final work for Alabama Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - About 13 hours before some of the best 3-year-old colts were to square off in the Grade 1, $1 million Travers at Saratoga, Swiss Skydiver, arguably the leader of the 3-year-old filly division, put in her final workout in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama Stakes.

Swiss Skydiver, working shortly after the Oklahoma training track opened at 5:30 a.m., went five furlongs in 1:01.56. Breaking from the 4 1/2-furlong pole, Swiss Skydiver went her opening quarter in 25.44 seconds and her final three furlongs in 36.12.

“She actually went a lot faster than I wanted her to,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “She just does these things easy enough. She’s kind of pulling us here. She acted like she wanted to run and it was going to be eight weeks between races.”

Swiss Skydiver, who won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in March, the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn in May, and the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks in June, most recently finished second to Art Collector when facing males in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on July 11. Afterward, McPeek ruled out a shot at the Kentucky Derby and said Swiss Skydiver, a daughter of Daredevil owned by Peter Callahan, would point to the Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Sept. 4.

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There will be only 20 days between the Alabama and the Oaks.

“I really wish the race fell today as opposed to next week because of the timing of the Oaks, but I can’t really control that and there aren’t any other choices,” McPeek said.

Tyler Gaffalione will ride Swiss Skydiver in the Alabama.

Shortly after 7:30 a.m., McPeek worked his other Alabama contender, Envoutante, who went five furlongs in 1:00.29, also breaking off at the 4 1/2-furlong pole and going a sixteenth past the wire. She got her last quarter in 24.61 seconds.

“She’s training superb and she’s going to run as good a race I’ve ever had her run,” McPeek said.

Envoutante, a daughter of Uncle Mo owned by Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm, is coming off a third-place finish to Speech in the Grade 1 Ashland.

** Trainer Wesley Ward scratched both Fauci and Golden Pal out of Saturday’s $75,000 Tyro Stakes, which came off the turf, at Monmouth Park and is considering running both in the $85,000 Skidmore Stakes here Aug. 21 at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.

On Saturday, Fauci, a recent maiden winner at Keeneland, worked a half-mile in 50.41 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course. Fauci started seven lengths behind Blame the Booze and came up the inside finishing on even terms.

** Decorated Invader and Gufo, both pointing to next Saturday’s $500,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational, worked a half-mile together over the Oklahoma turf course. Decorated Invader, who started a length behind, went in 48.95 seconds while Gufo was timed in 49.15.

** Got Stormy worked five furlongs in 1:03.58 over the Oklahoma turf course. She is being pointed to the Grade 1 Fourstardave here Aug. 22.