Baffert will be aiming for a record fifth victory in the
Swaps when he saddles probable favorite Coil.
Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, the son
of Point Given and the Theatrical mare Eversmile was successful by one length
in his two turn debut in the Grade III Affirmed Handicap June 11.
The win was the third in four starts for the Florida bred
and he’s earned $118,560. The wins have come since he was purchased privately
last fall.
Baffert’s latest Swaps victory was with Misremembered in
2009. He’s also won with During (2003), Congaree (2001) and Captain Steve
(2000).
Uncle Sam gives Baffert two shots at the top prize in the
Swaps. Owned by Kaleem Shah, Inc., the Tapit ridgling out of the Pleasant
Colony mare On the Town has won two of five, earning $89,340.
The gray returns to California after finishing eighth of
nine as the 8-5 favorite in the Lone Star
Derby on turf May 30. Uncle Sam was second in the Alydar Stakes May 8
behind stablemate Awesome Patriot in his lone start over Cushion Track.
Runflatout, second in the Affirmed, has a win in four races
for West Point Thoroughbreds and Sadler. The Flatter colt out of the Grand Slam
mare Slammin’ Lil has earned $72,400.
Boxeur des Rues returns to a synthetic surface after a
narrow grass win May 30. The son of Smart Strike and the Caerleon mare
Marseille Express has won two of five, earning $39,682. He is 1-for-4 since
coming to the United States
for owner J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill.
The California bred Spud Spivens had a two race win streak
snapped when he finished third in the Affirmed. A gelded son of Tizbud and the
Cutlass Reality mare Oceans Reality, Spud Spivens has won two of 11 and earned
$111,600. He is owned by a partnership that includes trainer Henry Moreno.
A double winner of the Swaps – Forceten (1975) and Prized
(1989) – Drysdale’s representative in 2011 is Dreamy Kid. Owned by breeder
Robert S. Evans, the son of Lemon Drop Kid and the Silver Hawk mare Dreams has
won once in five starts and earned $48,880.
From inside out, the field for the Swaps Stakes: Runflatout,
Garrett Gomez rides, 112 pounds; Spud Spivens, Alonso Quinonez, 114; Coil,
Martin Garcia, 118; Uncle Sam, Rafael Bejarano, 118; Dreamy Kid, Joe Talamo,
114 and Boxeur des Rues, Joel Rosario, 114.
