Champion Swiss Skydiver Tops Loaded Ogden Phipps

[Wandering Eyes]

Champion Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) looks to return to winning ways in a loaded renewal of Belmont's prestigious GI Ogden Phipps S. Saturday, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. The chestnut won five of her 10 starts in 2020, including the GIII Fantasy S., GII Santa Anita Oaks, GI Alabama S. The highlight of her Eclipse-winning sophomore season was a defeat of Horse of the Year and GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) in the GI Preakness S., held in October last season. Failing to fire when seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff in November, Swiss Skydiver kicked off 2021 with a decisive score in the GI Beholder Mile Mar. 13 at Santa Anita, making her two-for-two at that oval. She was last seen finishing third behind the re-opposing Letruska (Super Saver) and two-time champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in Oaklawn's GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 17. Jose Ortiz will be aboard for the first time.

“She's been training super,” trainer Ken McPeek told the NYRA notes team. “We had a little hind leg infection that was bothering her. It didn't appear to be a big deal going into Oaklawn, but it might have been why she ran a little flat that day. She's trained like a beast going into this race. So, we're lining up with her again. She's obviously a great filly.”

Closing out last term with a dominant score in the GIII Rampart S. at Gulfstream Dec. 12, Letruska wired the GIII Houston Ladies Classic Jan. 31. She missed by a head to Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), who also lines up here, in Oaklawn's GII Azeri S. Mar. 13 and out-nosed the mighty Monomoy Girl last time in Hot Springs. Her trainer Brad Cox also saddles Juddmonte homebred Bonny South (Munnings), who enters off a victory in Keeneland's GIII Doubledogdare S. Apr. 16.

“She's doing very well since the Apple Blossom,” trainer Fausto Gutierrez said. “She's trained very well at Keeneland. The first question I had was if she could fit with those kind of mares and she showed in that race that she could. She ran like a champion.”

Shedaresthedevil blew up the tote in the GI Kentucky Oaks last September when besting Swiss Skydiver at odds of 15-1. Third next out behind fellow Ogden Phipps competitor Valiance (Tapit) in Keeneland's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. in October, the bay opened her 4-year-old account in the Azeri and followed suit with a one-length score in Churchill's GI La Troienne S. Apr. 30. That win which was further flattered when runner-up Envoutante (Uncle Mo) came back to capture the Shawnee S. beneath the Twin Spires May 29.

Taking a sloppy off-the-turf renewal of Monmouth's Eatontown S. prior to her breakout score in the Spinster, Valiance completed the exacta behind Monomoy Girl in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland Nov. 7. Connections scratched the gray from the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in order to race her another season and she makes her 2021 bow here.

Rounding out the field are GII Ruffian S. runner-up Water White (Conveyance) and GIII Royal Delta S. victress Queen Nekia (Harlington).

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