Three Grade 1 winners highlight an impressive field of 14 set to contest the Grade 1 Sword Swallower Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga. The $750,000 event will be run on the turf at 12 furlongs, and is open to horses three years old and up.<\/p>\n
#1 TALES OF DRAGONS (7-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
20-7-5-3-$610,784<\/b><\/p>\n
Tapit x Danzig x Roberto<\/b><\/p>\n
This four year old colt is beautifully bred, and is really just beginning to make his mark on the racetrack. His first attempt outside allowance company took place last October, and since then he has won a stakes race and regularly competed in Grade 1 company. His last two races he has showed and placed in Grade 1 events. More importantly for today, both of those races were at shorter distances than today’s race, and Tales of Dragons was flying down the stretch, indicating to us that he might appreciate the extra distance. This\u00a0simsters4<\/i>-trainee hasn’t won since March, but unlike several of his rivals, we think the needle is pointing up on this one. Ignore at your own peril.<\/p>\n
#2 SNARKY CADET (7-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
15-8-2-1-$717,385<\/b><\/p>\n
Deep Impact (JPN) x Jade Hunter x Deputy Minister<\/b><\/p>\n
Cadet<\/i>-trained Snarky Cadet is a lightly-raced five year old, who has won over half of his 15 career starts. After a four month break over the winter, Snarky Cadet returned to the races in good form, with two wins and a place in four starts this year. The stakes winning son of Deep Impact is coming off one of the finest races in his career, finishing a close second while posting a strong 116 speed figure in the Grade 1 United Countries Handicap in New Jersey on July 2nd. He’s never won a graded race before, which would normally be a red flag, but his connections usually know what they’re doing. Definitely one to consider.<\/p>\n
#3 DURTAL (27-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
34-4-7-6-$251,502<\/b><\/p>\n
Durandal x Flying Legend x Armiger<\/b><\/p>\n
Most experienced horse in the race will be making his 35th trip through the starting gate in the Sword Swallower. First attempt in Grade 1 company. Japanese-bred five year old has a unique pedigree that you don’t see every day. Ksparrow<\/i>-trainee has been busy so far in 2016, racing ten times after taking the second half of 2015 off. One win, two places, and a show to show for those ten races thus far. Finished sixth in the Grade 2 The Dancing North Cup last time out on July 17th. Tied a career best with a 107 speed second to last time out, but will need to take a big step forward to compete with these. Probably not the one.<\/p>\n
#4 ROCKIN’ INVADER (14-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
17-4-3-2-$388,328<\/b><\/p>\n
Rock of Gibraltar x Invasor x Sadler’s Wells<\/b><\/p>\n
The only child of Grade 3 winning sim dam Invading Hammer has done his mom one better, winning the Grade 2 Buck Dharma Handicap at 11 furlongs with a career-best 117 speed figure in Florida in January. Since then, however, things have gone downhill for the four year old son of Rock of Gibraltar. The\u00a0aaihr<\/i>-trainee has failed to hit the board in five straight races. To be fair, four of those attempts were in Grade 1 company, so his connections haven’t been avoiding anyone. That said, it seems to us that this crew may be a bit too tough for Rockin’ Invader to handle, and we’re looking elsewhere.<\/p>\n
#5 GREEN BLUFFS (14-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
15-5-2-5-$405,210<\/b><\/p>\n
Bluffy x Green Desert x Fantastic Light<\/b><\/p>\n
This humbly-bred colt from Oklahoma has accomplished quite a bit in his fine career, earning over $400,000 for trainer\u00a0acote7<\/i>. The four year old son of Bluffy is coming off the best race of his life on June 19th, when he won the Grade 2 Kakarazuka Tinen Cup in Japan at 17-1 with a career-best speed figure of 114. Green Bluffs has finished in the money in three of five starts in 2016, but this will mark his first attempt in Grade 1 company. Will need a repeat of his last performance to be a factor against these. As much as we like this rags to riches tale, we’re not expecting a storybook ending today.<\/p>\n
#6 RAPID ASSAULT (9-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
18-6-5-1-$305,733<\/b><\/p>\n
Mastercraftsman (Ire) x New Approach (Ire) x Mill Reef<\/b><\/p>\n
One of three Irish-breds in the field, this four year old son of Mastercraftsman earned his first stakes victory last time to the post, winning the Royal Roo Turf Memorial with a career-best speed figure of 115. In good form: has raced five times this year, with three wins and a place. Negatively, the one time he missed the board was in his first try ever in graded company, when he finished fourth in the Grade 3 The Golden Bridge. Redhill2<\/i>-trainee is the son of Grade 2 winning he-mare Rapid Approach, who earned over $1 million while winning 16 races. Trending in the right direction, but the Sword Swallower will be a big step up in class for Rapid Assault. We’re looking at others on top, but can’t criticize anyone who decides to put a few dollars down on this fellow.<\/p>\n
#7 SINGIN’N’DANCIN (11-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
14-3-5-1-$247,256
\n<\/b><\/p>\n
Danehill Dancer x More Than Ready x Unbridled’s Song<\/b><\/p>\n
This Irish-bred colt is a Local Champion, racing in the colors of\u00a0magoo2912<\/i>. Although he hasn’t won yet this season, he has performed reasonably well in four tries in graded company, finishing second in a pair of Grade 3 events. The son of Danehill Dancer last ran on June 26th, when he placed in the Grade 3 Scandinavian Championship in Denmark. Has just one race at the Grade 1 level, and didn’t experience much success, finishing ninth in last year’s Irish Derby. Singin’n’dancin might prefer a little less distance than he’s being asked to run in the Sword Swallower. Doesn’t appear to us to have the class to hang with this strong field.<\/p>\n
#8 SUPERDRAGON (9-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
23-11-5-1-$3,509,160<\/b><\/p>\n
Dynaformer x Sadler’s Wells x Seattle Slew<\/b><\/p>\n
This well-bred six-year-old son of Dynaformer is the most accomplished horse in the Sword Swallower, boasting 11 wins and over $3.5 million in career earnings. The\u00a0given007<\/i>-trainee is closing in on Hall of Fame credentials, with four Grade 1 wins in a stellar career (2014\u00a0\u00a0Classic Turf Stakes and King Kong Vase; 2015 The Milan Grand Prix; and 2016 San Francisco Capitan Handicap). All four of Superdragon’s Grade 1 victories have come at today’s distance of 12 furlongs. He has run five times so far in 2015, with mixed results. He won in allowance company and in the San Francisco Capitan Handicap to begin the season, but has hit the board just once, a second place finish in allowance company, in his past three starts. Last time out he faded to tenth in the Grade 1 The Coronation Pilsner, posting his slowest speed figure (97) since his debut in December 2013. Has been freshened for two months since then, so the big questions now are whether he just needed a breather, or whether he has already peaked. Very hard to pick against this classy fellow, but we prefer others today.<\/p>\n
#9 LONGWALK TOFREEDOM (12-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
22-5-0-2-$470,422<\/b><\/p>\n
Malibu Moon x Sadler’s Wells x Roberto<\/b><\/p>\n
Longwalk Tofreedom has had an interesting career for trainer\u00a0chloedawg<\/i>. The impeccably-bred son of Malibu Moon has finished in the money just seven times in 22 career starts, but has won five of the seven times he hit the board. Finally became a stakes winner last time out, capturing the Grade 2 Dawn to Dusk Cup at today’s distance on July 9th. Has not hit the board in four tries at the Grade 1 level, but has finished in the money in three of four Grade 2 events, so there is talent here. Twelve straight triple digit speeds, dating back to last June. We’re putting our money elsewhere, but wouldn’t be the biggest surprise in the world to see this one in the photo.<\/p>\n
#10 OUTBACK PHOSPHORUS (7-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
17-7-2-3-$2,004,025<\/b><\/p>\n
Street Cry x Dynaformer x Montjeu<\/b><\/p>\n
A five-year-old bay foaled in Australia, Outback Phosphorus has spent his entire career racing on the grass, highlighted by a victory in the Grade 1 The Expensive Jalopy at today’s distance last September. Since then, he has hit the board just twice in six trips to the post. Positively, his lone win this year happened his last time out, on June 19th. Negatively, he had to drop down into allowance company to find a field he could beat after losing five stakes races in a row following his big win at Victoria. The\u00a0outback6<\/i>-trainee has posted fifteen consecutive triple-digit speed figures, with a peak of 117, and has never recorded worse than a 97 speed in a remarkably consistent career. One to respect, but it has been almost a year since he finished in the money in graded company, and we’re not expecting to see Outback Phosphorus\u00a0back in the winner’s circle today.<\/p>\n
#11 GOT THIS ON LOCKE (5-1)<\/b><\/p>\n
16-6-2-2-$2,111,416<\/b><\/p>\n
English Channel x Danehill x Roberto<\/b><\/p>\n
Mtkinde<\/em>-trained Got This On Locke is one of three Grade 1 winners running in the Sword Swallower, having captured both The Irish Derby and Owner’s Stakes as a three-year-old last summer. The son of English Channel last won in December, and has campaigned exclusively in Grade 1 company thus far in 2016, with a place and a show in four trips to the post. His last race was on June 26th, when he faded to a disappointing 9th in the Kakarazura Kinen Cup at 11 furlongs in Japan, posting his worst speed figure (106) in over a year. Has never raced on any surface but turf, and half of his career races (including three wins) came at today’s distance of 12 furlongs, so there are no questions about his credentials. That said, his last effort worries us, and we are letting others put their money on the morning line favorite in this star-studded field.<\/p>\n #12 LIGHT AND JOY (16-1)<\/b><\/p>\n 19-2-3-7-$513,600<\/b><\/p>\n North Light x Alleged x Kitten’s Joy<\/b><\/p>\n Light and Joy, a four year old Canadian-bred, has been on quite a nice run. The\u00a0bid<\/i>-trainee has finished in the money in eight straight races, dating back to last July, after hitting the board just four times in his first 11 starts. Trending in the right direction, with six straight triple digit speeds, and the two highest speed figures of his career (111 and 109) in his last two trips to the post. Placed in Grade 1 company in each of his last two starts. Hard to pick a horse that has only won twice in its career to get its first stakes win in the Sword Swallower against this field, but Light and Joy is clearly improving, and the price should be generous. Definitely consider in your exotics.<\/p>\n \u00a0#13 YOU WERE ON FIRE (12-1)<\/b><\/p>\n 13-5-5-2-$235,725<\/b><\/p>\n Street Cry x Dubai Millennium x Private Account<\/b><\/p>\n Lightly-raced willyam13<\/i> colt recorded his first stakes victory last time out, winning the Popular Alm Turf Endurance at 11 furlongs on June 26th. Recorded a career-best 111 speed figure in the effort, and has reached triple digits seven times in a row. Nicely-bred colt has been managed well by his connections, finishing in the money in twelve straight races after a fifth place finish in his debut. A bit of a wildcard, as this will be You Were On Fire’s first attempt in graded company, and just his fourth race on grass. A big step up in class, but we have a feeling his best days are ahead of him.<\/p>\n #14 KNOW IM NO GOOD (12-1)<\/b><\/p>\n 13-6-3-1-$157,425<\/b><\/p>\n Pivotal x Sadler’s Wells x Giant’s Causeway<\/b><\/p>\n Bred to run all day on the turf, this dabears<\/i>-trainee has done exactly that, winning six of his twelve attempts in grass routes. Has competed outside of allowance company in his last two, placing in a listed stakes race and finishing fourth in the Grade 1 United Countries Handicap on July 2nd. \u00a0Posted top two speed figures of his career in those efforts. Won four of five in allowance company earlier this year before moving up in class. Move from $15,000 allowance races in Wyoming to a Grade 1 event at Saratoga is a steep learning curve. The price will be tempting, and there’s something to be said for his recent form. \u00a0Not our selection, but we understand why some would put their money on Know Im No Good.<\/p>\n POINTGUARD’S PICKS:<\/b><\/p>\n WIN – #1 TALES OF DRAGONS (7-1)<\/b><\/p>\n PLACE – #2 SNARKY CADET (7-1)<\/b><\/p>\n SHOW – #6 RAPID ASSAULT (9-1)<\/b><\/p>\n BEST LONGSHOT – #12 LIGHT AND JOY (16-1)<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Three Grade 1 winners highlight an impressive field of 14 set to contest the Grade 1 Sword Swallower Stakes on<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2146,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38545","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38545","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=38545"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38545\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38582,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38545\/revisions\/38582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=38545"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=38545"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=38545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}