Undaunted Swansea Triumph earns Eclipse award for Older Female Dirt Route
Sometimes greatness comes with a few elite performances, and sometimes it is built on an overall body of work. In this case, it’s the latter that is being recognized.
It is for the entirety of her 2014 year, rather than any draw-dropping victories, that Swansea Triumph has been named the 2014 Older Female Dirt Route Eclipse Horse of the Year.
The selection may surprise some, as the chestnut mare was not considerably impressive in any of the most elite races she ran during her 5-year-old campaign, but she never backed away from a challenge. In the process she earned two Grade I victories and a Grade I runner-up and Grade II runner-up finish. Throw in a listed stakes victory and it is a pretty nice haul for a horse that has earned $1.2 million thus far in her career.
It seems obvious that owner Bristolred would have high hopes for Swansea Triumph coming out of 2013. As a 4-year-old, the scratchbred daughter of Montjeu (by Kingmambo out of A.P. Indy) had won the Grade I Superfilly Handicap and then finished in the money in the Grade I Breeder’s Bowl Distaff. In the process she out-ran two hall-of-famers and four Eclipse winners.
As such, Bristolred threw his prized mare into the mix over a mile in the 2014 Equinics. Unfortunately, the result was not much to write home about — six lengths back in 10th place.
But after failing to top elite competition, Swansea Triumph bounced back with a comfortable win in the open Western Dancer Dirt Mare Route, in which she bested three other graded winners, including Eclipse-worthy King of Stupid.
That run, however, only set up disappointment. Despite a solid enough performance, Swansea Triumph saw her hard charge fall short in the Grade II Maryland Distaff, settling for second. Still, she added to a growing resume that ultimately would net her an end-of-year honor.
The Maryland Distaff also set up the mare’s strongest stretch of the year, with Swansea Triumph heating up as the summer temperatures did. A month later she took on a Grade I Steadhemp Handicap field brimming with quality, and again left with mixed emotions. As the odds-makers’ favorite she finished as the bridesmaid yet again. She would, however, end that trend.
After five weeks in the stables, Swansea Triumph took on a group of 14 graded winners — including seven other Grade I winners — in the Grade I Go For The Gold over a mile and one eighth in New York. Dueling down the stretch with Dew Drops, Swansea Triumph nipped her foe at the wire for the second Grade I win of her career.
The victory buoyed Swansea Triumph’s camp, and after a two-month layoff the horse traveled west to California for October’s Grade I Bra Snap over 8.5 furlongs. Stalking Uncle Sal’s pace-setting run the whole way, Bristolred’s fair lady pushed past in the final throws of the race, hitting the wire a quarter-length in front and posting a second consecutive Grade I race.
The effort capped a four-race stretch that likely secured the Eclipse award for Swansea Triumph.
The end of the year was mostly forgettable for the 5-year-old, as she once again took a shot at the Breeder’s Bowl Distaff but was uncompetitive, followed by a forgettable run in the Grade II Barbacoa Handicap.
But Swansea Triumph had already made her mark, and it was this — never back down, and don’t burn out. The 2014 Older Female Dirt Route honors were all about consistency and regularly competing at a high level.
Congratulations to Swansea Triumph, Bristolred and his Swanseared Stables.