Alabama Stakes (Grade 1)

FOR the second weekend at Saratoga, a three-year-old filly produced a dominant performance and the scene is set for a match next month between the two Grade 1 winners.

The Peter Callahan-owned Swiss Skydiver came home by herself in the Grade 1 $500,000 Alabama Stakes, to set up a probable meeting with the previous weekend’s impressive winner Gamine, in the Kentucky Oaks on September 4th.

Swiss Skydiver had set a brisk pace in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes in Keeneland but had nothing to offer when Art Collector swept by in the stretch.

This time she was settled in second and after pressing the early pace from Crystal Ball, the Kenny McPeek-trained three-year-old took charge midway on the second turn of the mile and a quarter dirt race.

There was no doubts from there and she went on to score with her ears pricked by an easy three and a half-lengths under Tyler Gaffalione, covering the distance in 2m 3.04secs. Bonny South rallied to grab second, ahead of third-placed Harvey’s Lil Goil.

A bargain buy at just $35,000 by McPeek from the Keeneland September Sale in 2018, the Daredevil filly out of a Johannesburg mare.

“She just breathes different air,” McPeek told the Daily Racing Form. “It’s one of those things you never know when you get a horse like that. Everything we’ve asked her to do, she says “Okay, no problem.”

McPeek praised Gaffalione for a well-judged ride, clocking fractions of 47.91secs and 1m 12.27secs for six furlongs.

“He was given one instruction: I told him I wanted to go 48secs for the first half-mile. I thought, the race at Keeneland, we went a little quick for the first half and it took a little steam out of her and she couldn’t hold off Art Collector.”

However, Brian Hernandez is likely to be back in the saddle for the Kentucky Oaks where she will be bidding for her fifth win of the season.

“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be Oaks. Peter and I will sit down and talk about it, but we’re leaning pretty hard to the Oaks,” McPeek said

A showdown against dual Grade 1 winner Gamine, who romped home in the Longines Test Stakes in Saratoga after a record-setting run in the Longines Acorn Stakes in Belmont, will make a mouth-watering appetiser to the Kentucky Derby on the Friday in Churchill Downs.

“We don’t have any fear of her. My filly might even have an advantage because Churchill is our base and she’s went two turns repeatedly and hasn’t had any trouble doing that.” McPeek said.

McPeek has not ruled out a start in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in October, the final leg of the 2020 Triple Crown.

“We were trying to think a few steps ahead when we ran in the Blue Grass. But we got points if we need them for the Preakness by running in the Blue Grass, and we found out how she fit against colts. She’s just really special. Every time we take here over there, she does what you ask her to. She seems to be getting bigger and stronger as the year goes,” McPeek added. “I’m so happy for Peter Callahan. He’s given me opportunities to buy his horses for him for years now and this one makes up for a lot of average ones.”

Chad again

There was a bit of a surprise in the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes earlier on the card though Chad Brown and Irad Ortiz winning a big turf race is no surprise.

However, their winner Domestic Spending was only fourth choice in the betting behind Decorated Invader who finished a disappointing fifth. Domestic Spending, a British-bred gelded son of Kingman, races for Klaravich Stables and had only been third behind the favourite here a month ago.

He stalked the leaders in third before taking command from pacesetting Get Smokin at the mile pole and had enough in hand to hold off Gufo by a head.

Domestic Spending was acquired for 300,000gns at Tattersalls’ October Yearling Sale in 2018. Newspaperofrecord, also trained by Brown, was bought at the same sale the previous year for Klaravich Stables.

On Sunday, Godolphin’s homebred filly Antoinette made all the running to win the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes and register a half-length victory over Stunning Sky. The Hard Spun filly had campaigned on both turf and dirt in both her two-year-old and second season career, winning on both surfaces.