Breeders’ Cup Notes: Classic or Distaff for Swiss Skydiver?

October 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment

The decision will have to come, but Saturday was not the time to make it.

That doesn’t mean trainer Kenny McPeek hasn’t been thinking about what to do with his popular filly Swiss Skydiver when the Breeders’ Cup is run on the first weekend of November.

Here are the options: He could run Swiss Skydiver in the $2 million Distaff at 1 1/8 miles or take a swing at the $6 million Classic at 1 1/4 miles. Both races are on Nov. 7 at Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Ky.

What makes the choice more than a little difficult is how Swiss Skydiver has performed against both sexes this year.

The 3-year-old filly …

Filed Under: Breeders Cup, Horse Racing News Tagged With:

Got Questions about Horse Racing?

October 9, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Q: Now that Swiss Skydiver has shown she can beat the colts, I think it’s time for her connections to run her in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. What do you think?

A: Beating the boys in the Preakness Stakes is one thing, but beating them in the $6 million Classic is quite another. In the 36 previous runnings, Zenyatta (2009) is the only female to win the race in one of the most thrilling moments in Santa Anita’s history.

Swiss Skydiver’s connections have indicated they favor the Breeders’ Cup Distaff over the Classic, and that’s the way I’d go if she was my filly. But consider this: If she runs in the Classic and wins, she’s hands down the Horse of the Year. There’s not even a debate…

Filed Under: Handicapping 101, Horse Racing Education, Kentucky Derby | Triple Crown Tagged With: , ,