Daredevil Back in Rescheduled Swale

With a string of horses in the frozen Northeast, as well as his primary winter base of South Florida, trainer Todd Pletcher is used to the weather disrupting training and racing schedules alike.

The seven-time Eclipse Award winner hopes a schedule change down South was nothing more than an inconvenience as he brings back Daredevil March 7 for his much-anticipated sophomore debut in the $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Swale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, one week after the seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds was postponed because of torrential rainstorms. 

"It rarely happens here but we deal with similar situations in New York, particularly this winter a lot," Pletcher said. "It's not ideal, but everyone's in the same boat. He's a very cool customer and nothing fazes him so far."

Let's Go Stable, WinStar Farm, and China Horse Club's Daredevil, by More Than Ready  , was one of the leading early Triple Crown contenders last season, having cruised to a 6 1/4-length victory in his September debut and following up with a 2 1/2-length triumph over Upstart in October's Champagne Stakes (gr. I), both over off tracks at Belmont Park.

Regular rider Javier Castellano will be aboard Daredevil, the 123-pound highweight, from post 1.

Six of the seven horses originally set to contest the Swale were re-entered on Wednesday, March 4, including grade III-placed X Y Jet, Spectacular Bid runner-up Ready for Rye, and Senor Grits, a recent Tampa Bay Downs allowance winner who was third in the James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel Park.

As a sprint, the Swale is not a race worth points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).