Preakness or Keeneland Race Next for Swiss Skydiver

Swiss Skydiver, second in the Sept. 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, is under consideration for one of three races early next month, including the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1) Oct 3 at Pimlico Race Course, trainer Kenny McPeek said. The other two races are the Oct. 4 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and the Oct. 10 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana Farm (G1T) at the Lexington track.

"We're just looking. We're going to look at the probables, possibles, and pull the numbers and see how she might fit," McPeek said of the Preakness. "We haven't ruled out the Spinster or QEII. It's still preliminary. We've still got plenty of time. She's supposed to work this weekend."

The Preakness was previously floated last month by McPeek as a possibility, and the potential for a Preakness start was one of the reasons Tyler Gaffalione was named to ride her in the Oaks, McPeek said before that race. Gaffalione piloted her to victory in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course for owner Peter Callahan this summer.

Brian Hernandez Jr., often McPeek's go-to rider, is the regular jockey of Art Collector, a colt that was forced to miss the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) due to a minor foot injury. On the rebound from his setback, he is still is a potential Preakness starter.

Rachel Alexandra was the last filly to win the Preakness in 2009. Four other fillies have also won the Preakness over its 144 runnings.

Derby winner Authentic and third-place Mr. Big News, Pneumatic, and Thousand Words are other leading prospects pointed for the Preakness. Derby runner-up Tiz the Law could run or await the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

Swiss Skydiver faced Art Collector once before, running second to him in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in her only prior race against males. The 3-year-old daughter of Daredevil  set a quick pace before tiring to lose by 3 1/2 lengths.

Stalking the leaders in the Oaks after breaking from the inside, Swiss Skydiver could not catch pace-pressing Shedaresthedevil, who registered a length and a half victory.

Swiss Skydiver's other racing options besides the Preakness offer contrasting conditions. The $400,000 Spinster is a 1 1/8-mile dirt race against older mares, a race on champion Midnight Bisou's itinerary, while the $500,000 QEII is restricted to 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on grass, a surface on which Swiss Skydiver is unraced.

Two of her half sisters are winners on turf, including 4-year-old Miss Hot Legs (by Verrazano), who placed in the Wishing Well Stakes at Santa Anita Park earlier this year.

McPeek is a five-time leading trainer at Keeneland who actively participates there. He is fourth among the track's all-time leading trainers by wins (236) and sixth by stakes wins (28), according to Keeneland publicity.