One Thousand Guineas Possible Target for Swiss Skydiver

When it comes to amassing qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, Swiss Skydiver's win in the May 1 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park put the Daredevil  filly in a league of her own. 

The 100 points from her first-place finish bring Swiss Skydiver's total to 210. She also earned 100 points for her March 28 score in the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park and picked up an additional 10 points at the start of the season with a third-place finish in the Feb. 15 Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. 

"I don't think we need any more points do we?" trainer Kenny McPeek said. "I think we have enough points. I'm proud of what we've done with her." 

But with the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) postponed until Sept. 4 and so many races in the 3-year-old division either canceled or rescheduled, the question now is how to keep a talented filly like Swiss Skydiver fit until the fall. 

The answer might lie outside the United States. Though racing in the United Kingdom—as in most countries around the world—has been suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket could be a viable next start for Swiss Skydiver. 

"After the race the other day, Peter Callahan, the owner, was asked what we would do next considering the options we have, and he mentioned the race," McPeek said. "I didn't really know about how the One Thousand Guineas works, but when we started doing the math on it, it comes back in five weeks, which is pretty good timing since the Kentucky Oaks isn't until September. We would have four months." 

Run over one mile on the grass, the British classic for fillies is currently scheduled for June 6. Racing in Britain has been on lockdown since the end of March, but the British Horseracing Authority is hopeful that the government will clear the way for racing to resume May 15. 

"I don't know what the competition would be, but I know they haven't even been running, so we might have the competitive advantage because we have a horse that has been running," McPeek said. "We're definitely going to do the nomination for the race, and we are seriously considering her for it. I don't think she would have any problems handling grass, but we're doing our due diligence. 

"Nothing is set in stone, and ultimately Pete Callahan will decide if we try it. She's an exciting filly, and when you get a good horse, you can't be afraid to go somewhere."

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Swiss Skydiver is the fourth foal out of the Johannesburg mare Expo Gold, who has also produced stakes-placed Miss Hot Legs. Purchased by McPeek for $35,000 from the consignment of Select Sales to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Swiss Skydiver has earned $437,980 from her six starts.