Swiss Skydiver Turns Back Authentic to Win Preakness

Swiss Skydiver became just the sixth filly to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) with a brilliant performance Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course, turning back Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Authentic by a neck in a thrilling stretch run that will be talked about for years to come.

The 3-year-old daughter of Daredevil  ranged up to the lead with a bold move under jockey Robby Albarado after tracking the pace early on the rail and hooked into a fierce duel with Authentic, who was forwardly placed throughout in a battle for the advantage with stablemate Thousand Words.

Authentic dug deep with every stride, but Swiss Skydiver would not give in and surged under the wire with just enough to land her historic win.

The final time for the 1 3/16-mile event was a swift 1:53.28, the second-fastest Preakness ever run, according to track announcer Dave Rodman. Secretariat won the 1973 Preakness in 1:53.

The win was the first by a filly since Rachel Alexandra in 2009. Other fillies to win the Preakness are Nellie Morse (1924), Rhine Maiden (1915), Whimsical (1906), and Flocarline (1903). Sent off at odds of 11-1, Swiss Skydiver returned $25.40 on a $2 win ticket.

To show the class of the top two on this day, it was 9 3/4 lengths back to Jesus' Team in third. Art Collector, the 2-1 second choice to 3-2 Authentic, was a head back in fourth.

With a fall classic finale at venerable Pimlico, the shadows were cast a little longer across the stretch, the air a little crisper, the leaves turning to yellow and red instead of bursting with new life.

Spring is usually the time for 3-year-olds at old Hilltop. The history of fall at Pimlico is rooted in the famed Seabiscuit-War Admiral match race that took place Nov. 1, 1938, and late-season Maryland Million day cards. This renewal, a delayed start due to COVID-19 and run without patrons, surely joins the ranks. It's a shame owner Peter Callahan was watching from home.

By October, the 3-year-olds are bigger and more mature than they were in mid-May. The winner came to hand in the spring but got stronger during the summer.

The filly, bred by WinStar Farm out of the Johannesburg mare Expo Gold, came to the Preakness in good flesh and good form.

She won the March 28 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park, took the May 1 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park next out, then shipped to Santa Anita Park and won the June 6 Santa Anita Oaks (G2). McPeek, who spoke of the Preakness this spring, tested the boys in the July 11 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and she ran second to Art Collector. An easy winner of the Aug. 15 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course going 1 1/4 miles, she fell short of winning the Sept. 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, finishing second to Shedaresthedevil by 1 1/2 lengths.

The team of McPeek and Albarado stayed tight all Preakness week around the stakes barn. They have known each other for years racing and training on the Kentucky circuit and have somewhat of a Preakness bond. McPeek purchased and was the original trainer of Curlin , whom Albarado rode to victory in the 2007 Preakness. This year marks the 47-year-old rider's second Preakness score in 10 attempts.

"This week with Robby we had breakfast together, and lunch and dinner together," McPeek said. "We were rowing in the same direction and the mojo was good and happy.

"I didn't feel that much tension," he continued. "I felt like we were prepared. Every day she was happy; she was bright-eyed. She was dragging me around the barn.

"Horses tell you when they are doing good, and she always tells me she's doing good. She is just a real bull. She likes what she does. She doesn't want to wait to go out; she goes out early."

It was trainer Bob Baffert's two runners, Thousand Words and Authentic, who had command as the field passed the wire the first time. Those two were tracked by the trio of Swiss Skydiver on the rail, Pneumatic on the outside, and Art Collector in the middle. The early fractions were :24.48 for the opening quarter and :47.65 for the half.

At the five-eighths pole, Albarado made the decision to take it to the boys and gained the advantage while traveling inside of Authentic.

"I had to make a conscious decision in the middle of the backstretch," Albarado said. "I jumped in there. My plan was to stay on the inside."

It didn't take long to make it a two-horse race as they hit the top of the lane after a mile in 1:34.74.

"I was worried when they got to the sixteenth pole," McPeek said. "There are no guarantees in this game."

"It was the Derby champ. You have to give him respect," Albarado said. "I maybe hit her once, but she was determined to stay in front."

Baffert, who has won seven Preaknesses, and six with Kentucky Derby winners, was on the other end of the stick this time.

"I thought I was going to be on the lead," he said. "(John Velazquez) said that it didn't work out and he was rating (Authentic) today (behind Thousand Words). He doesn't like rating.

"That's a good filly," he said. "He had every chance to get by her. He got beat. He just couldn't get by her. She dug in. She's tough."

Swiss Skydiver is from the first crop of Daredevil (by More Than Ready ) and was purchased by McPeek, as agent, for $35,000 from the Select Sales consignment during the ninth session of the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

"I love More Than Ready on the top line," McPeek said earlier this year. "It's hard not to like (broodmare sire) Johannesburg, and she had some distance—her second dam is by Strike the Gold. She was a beautiful package.

"She had a fantastic hip, depth of shoulder, and balance. A lot of guys look at horses differently, but you have to go by what works for you."

Swiss Skydiver debuted Nov. 16, 2019, with a 5 1/2-length score going seven furlongs at Churchill. She ran second in the slop in an allowance optional claiming race there Nov. 30, then went to Florida. She was fifth, but beaten only three-quarters of a length, in the Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, then was third in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots before winning the Gulfstream Park Oaks. Saturday, she put her talent on display at a whole new level.

The Preakness, as the middle child of the Triple Crown series, is usually the most formful of the races.

Despite going to his nose at the head of the lane, Afleet Alex  roared in the stretch of the Preakness after just missing in the Derby. A little more than a decade ago, Rachel Alexandra outfooted 50-1 Derby winner Mine That Bird. That was followed by favored Lookin At Lucky  failing to overcome the rail under the Twin Spires but flashing championship form at Pimlico. Twice in the past five years, Baffert brought American Pharoah  and Justify  to Baltimore to add the middle jewel to their Triple Crowns as heavy favorites.

Swiss Skydiver is no 2020 anomaly but brought her "form" to the boys in 2020.

She's now 6-3-1 in 11 starts and has earned $1,792,980, along with a ton of respect. When it was noted the Preakness is a Breeders' Cup Challenge event for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) for the first time in history, McPeek said, "Wow."

Video: Preakness S. (G1)