Champion Swiss Skydiver Breezes at Gulfstream Park

Swiss Skydiver, last year's champion 3-year-old filly, recorded her first workout of 2021 when she breezed three furlongs in :37.53 Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park.

The breeze was her first since she ran seventh after stumbling at the start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 7, one of just two races in which she was off the board in 10 starts in 2020. Last year at 3, the Daredevil  filly won five stakes for owner Peter Callahan, including the Preakness Stakes (G1) over Horse of the Year Authentic .

Her Friday workout came in company with Envoutante, winner of last fall's Falls City Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in her most recent race. Trainer Kenny McPeek said he timed the pair galloping out a half-mile in about :50.

"She got a couple of months, which she deserved, and we just eased her back into things," McPeek said of Swiss Skydiver's initial training that began at his Silverleaf Hills Training Center near Ocala, Fla. "She has been down here at Gulfstream for a few weeks. We let her run down the lane last week, and this week we gave her three-eighths to ease into things, let her stretch her legs."

McPeek said he has not chosen a specific comeback race and noted the absence of two-turn route stakes for older fillies and mares next month at Gulfstream. Long-range targets could include either the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park April 17 or the La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs on the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard April 30.

He prefers to keep Envoutante, owned by Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm, and Swiss Skydiver separated in upcoming races.

Also breezing for McPeek Friday morning were stakes-winning 3-year-old fillies Oliviaofthedesert, who went three furlongs in :35.85, and Crazy Beautiful and Simply Ravishing, both timed in :48.89 for a half-mile.

"I'm inclined to run Simply Ravishing two turns when I find a spot," McPeek said of last year's Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) winner. "I think Crazy Beautiful is probably going to be a one-turn filly. I might be able to make the Davona Dale with her. We'll see."

The Davona Dale Stakes (G2) is a $200,000 contest at a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27, a race expected to lure champion Vequist for her first start at 3.

Simply Ravishing was McPeek's top performer in the 2-year-old filly division last year, finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) behind Vequist and fourth as the heavy favorite in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in her final race of the year Nov. 28.

"I was surprised she didn't run any better that day," he said. "She didn't scope perfectly after the race. Nothing major."

Crazy Beautiful won the Runhappy Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park during the summer, and Oliviaofthedesert captured the Trapeze Stakes at Remington Park in December.