 D'wildcat blowing them away in the Swale. |
Dateline: 03/10/01
By: Terence Dulay
The Florida Derby was not the only major race for three year olds at Gulfstream Park today. The Swale Stakes at 7 furlongs is an alternative for horses which may not be suited to Derby distances or are not yet far enough along to try 9 furlongs. This year it drew the D. Wayne Lukas trainee Yonaguska, who was sent off as the odds-on 4-5 favorite in a compact field of six.
With the exception of 46-1 longshot Sparkling Sabre, the entire field stayed within three lengths of the lead for the first half mile. Liberty Township set the initial fractions of 22.28 and 44.42 with Fistfite and Yonaguska alongside him. When the field turned for home, jockey Corey Nakatani turned D'wildcat loose, passing four horses and drawing off to win by an ever-widening 10 1/2 lengths for a final time of 1:22.25. Tarek, who had been in 4th the whole way, passed the tiring Yonaguska for 2nd place money late in the stretch. Pacesetter Liberty Township finished fourth.
D'wildcat's trainer Bob Hess Jr. said "I wasn't really surprised with the move he made on the turn and into the stretch. Style-wise that is the way he's supposed to run. We taught him how to rate. I was surprised that he won so convincingly." He will return D'wildcat home to California to train for the April 8 Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland but he is not expected to go to the Kentucky Derby.
Jockey Jerry Bailey aboard beaten favorite Yonaguska said "The winner was much the best; I had no apparent excuse. He's run a lot better than running that quick down the backside. It was not his best shot."
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 3 D'wildcat Nakatani 6.60 4.20 2.10 6 Tarek Velazquez 5.20 2.20 5 Yonaguska Bailey 2.10 Winning Time: 1:22.25 $2 Exacta 3-6 26.00 $2 Trifecta 3-6-5 51.60Results Chart from Equibase
Other prep race results:
Photo by Terence Dulay.
