Swiss Skydiver Lands First Grade 1 in Alabama

Just as she has been on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard through the late spring and summer, Peter Callahan's Swiss Skydiver was comfortably in front by herself Aug. 15 in the $500,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

After pressing the early pace established by Crystal Ball, the Kenny McPeek-trained 3-year-old filly took charge midway on the second turn of the 1 1/4-mile dirt race and scored an easy 3 1/2-length victory under Tyler Gaffalione. The heavy favorite in the field of seven, she covered the distance in 2:03.04. The daughter of Daredevil  paid $4.30.

Not asked for her best by Gaffalione over the final sixteenth of a mile, she cruised under the wire in little more than a canter with her ears pricked.

Bonny South rallied to grab second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Harvey's Lil Goil, and Swiss Skydiver's stablemate Envoutante settled for fourth.

McPeek praised Gaffalione for a well-judged ride, keeping her at a moderate tempo, pressing fractions of :47.91 and 1:12.27 after she had been a part of faster splits under Mike Smith when second to Art Collector in Keeneland's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) July 11.

"He was given one instruction: I told him I wanted to go :48 for the first half-mile," the trainer said. "I thought (in) the race at Keeneland, we went a little quick (:46.61) for the first half and it took a little steam out of her and she couldn't hold off Art Collector. He spotted it. They went in 47 and (4/5ths) and he was one length off the pace. That was an 'Atta boy,' he did a great job."

The Alabama was the final qualifying race leading up to the Sept. 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. It offered points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to its top four finishers.

Swiss Skydiver, who entered the race with a 350-160 edge in points over Speech in second, now has 450. Bonny South is third with 150.

She also has 40 points toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) from her runner-up finish in the Blue Grass, though McPeek seemed more inclined to pursue the Oaks immediately after the Alabama.

"I'm pretty sure it's going to be (the) Oaks. Peter and I will sit down and talk about it, but we're leaning pretty hard to the Oaks," McPeek said. "Tiz the Law's race here last week (winning the Runhappy Travers Stakes, G1) was ultra-impressive, and if you hold the two against each other, I'm not sure we want to be up against him yet."

A showdown against dual grade 1 winner Gamine will likely await Swiss Skydiver in the Kentucky Oaks. The Bob Baffert trainee blitzed her rivals Aug. 8 in the Longines Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on the back of a record-setting romp in the June 20 Longines Acorn Stakes (G1). 

"It's exciting. It's going to get a lot of attention," McPeek said. "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."

While the Kentucky Derby is likely out the question, McPeek did not rule out a start in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, which will be the final leg of the 2020 Triple Crown.

"If she could win the Oaks and is still in good order, I think the Preakness would be a great race to win with the filly," McPeek said. "We were trying to think a few steps ahead when we ran in the Blue Grass. It gave me an opportunity to separate the two fillies and it gave Envoutante (who ran third in the grade 1 Central Bank Ashland for McPeek) to prove herself a little bit.

"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."

McPeek added that Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride Swiss Skydiver in the Oaks. Hernandez won aboard her in the Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park this spring and has been McPeek's "go-to jock for a long time," the trainer said.

Swiss Skydiver also picked up her first grade 1 victory in the Alabama, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 7. McPeek has now won the Alabama twice after first capturing it with Eskimo Kisses in 2018.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Swiss Skydiver improved her record to 5-2-1 from nine starts and her earnings to $952,980. She is the first graded winner for her dam, the Johannesburg mare Expo Gold, and the dam's second black-type runner. McPeek bought Swiss Skydiver for $35,000 from the Select Sales consignment at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

"She's just really special," he said. "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. She's just a very special filly to be around.

"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 I've bought."