ARCADIA, Calif.— In what will be her first start for Phil D’Amato, Irish-bred Hamwood Flier rates a huge chance versus six rival fillies and mares three and up in Sunday’s $80,000 Swingtime Stakes at one mile over the Santa Anita turf.
A 4-year-old filly blessed with an abundance of natural speed, Hamwood Flier sailed gate to wire to a 3 ¼ length win in her U.S. debut, a one mile turf allowance here on May 29. Subsequently second at a mile turf as the 2-1 favorite in the restricted Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar July 23, a race in which she again opened up early but was run down late by a flying Avenue de France while beaten 1 ¼ lengths, she was then transferred from George Papaprodromou to D’Amato.
Owned by Rockingham Ranch and Talla Racing, LLC, Hamwood Flier, who earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure in the Osunitas, is 6-2-2-1 overall and will be ridden for the first time by Mike Smith.
D’Amato will be more than well represented by another Irish-bred Counterparty Risk, who comes off big second condition allowance score at one mile on turf Aug. 20 at Del Mar, a race in which she was attentive to the pace and rallied for a half-length win while earning a Swingtime best last-out Beyer of 90.
Originally trained by Chad Brown, Counterparty Risk, a 5-year-old mare, will be making her third start for D’Amato. A Grade III stakes winner on turf at Tampa Bay Downs nine starts back in February, 2021, Counterparty Risk is 12-3-2-3 overall and will be ridden back by Ramon Vazquez.
Trainer Eoin Harty’s multiple graded stakes-placed Javanica looks for her first stakes win in what will be her 18th career start and could prove bothersome to anyone with front-running intentions. A 4-year-old Godolphin homebred filly by Medaglia d’Oro out of the Elusive Quality mare Shuruq, she comes off a third-place finish in the Grade II Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 13 and will be ridden back by Drayden Van Dyke.
Although shipping south is always a tough assignment, Golden Gate Fields-based Natural Colour will be bidding for her third consecutive turf stakes win and merits serious consideration for trainer Manny Badilla.
Owned by former Santa Anita President Ron Charles and Samuel Gordon, English-bred Natural Colour, who has won three out of her five California starts, is 14-5-2-1 overall and will be ridden back by Pedro Terrero.
THE SWINGTIME STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 10 – Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT
- Javanica – Drayden Van Dyke – 122
- Warrens Candy Girl – Umberto Rispoli – 126
- Sugar Fix – Edwin Maldonado – 124
- Hamwood Flier – Mike Smith – 122
- Counterparty Risk – Ramon Vazquez – 126
- Natural Colour – Pedro Terrero – 126
- Rocking Redhead – Abel Cedillo – 124
First post time for a 10-race card that includes three stakes on Sunday is 1 p.m.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Main photo: Hamwood Flier (Benoit Photo)
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