August 23, 2016

Despite a win in the Grade II Lake George over the same course at the start of the SAR meet, Swarley Kapai was sent off at nearly 33-1 in the Grade II Lake Placid and rewarded her backers well with a second straight turf course, and third overall from only four starts on the surface. A daughter of Grade I winner Absolutely, who never raced on the grass, she was solid enough in Graded Stakes company on the dirt before her move back to the turf and now, sports six career wins and more than $600.000 in career earnings, with plenty of high 90’s speed ratings to score for her good form.

A good turf at SAR led to a good start for Viking Amy (14.50) from her outside stall but Lucky You (2.40) held her position well along the rail with Swarley Kapai (32.95) between runners and Tennessee Titan (78.55) three-wide. Those four moved to the front around the first turn before Swarley Kapai dropped back, leaving a line of three into the backstretch with Smokin Nebulae (1.90) the only disconnected one at the back of the field. The front markers marched past the half-mile pole in 47.87 with Lucky You assuming control and with Viking Amy starting to fade, Swarley Kapai had to find a space to run and she angled outside as the tiring leaders moved to the rail for some reason. Tennessee Titan was well meant through six-furlongs in 1:11.40 but Lucky You had scampered away to a length advantage with the backfield starting to close under the tiring conditions. At the head of the lane, Swarley Kapai had all the momentum as she swept to the lead with little resistance from Lucky You and inside the furlong pole, Smokin Nebalue came with a minor rally that was too little and way too late. The final margin of victory was a measured length with Swarley Kapai upsetting the field at huge odds, with Smokin Nebulae clearly second and Lucky You third, although very tired and only a neck to the good over Pretty Little Pirate (12.25) and favourite Triptych (*1.75), who never really got involved. Tennessee Titan did not have it late at her big odds while early leader Viking Amy backed up to last in a tough effort that proved the give to the ground really played well to the closers.

Swarley Kapai was a surprising winner of the Lake George in her return to the turf but scored an even bigger upset against similar rivals in the Grade II Lake Placid, albeit over a good course that played well to her change in tactics. The Grade II Sands Point would be a move up in class but keep her in NY while the Commonwealth Oaks at LRL gives her another week to prepare; in any case, she is certainly a classy filly on the grass and can choose her spot carefully, with plenty of options to fall back on.

Congratulations goes out to owner Grimley and their three-year-old filly Swarley Kapai, a sharp winner of the Grade II Lake Placid at SAR!

Prediction              Lucky You / Swarley Kapai / Smokin Nebulae

Winner                   Swarley Kapai

                                  Three-year-old black filly

                                  Absolutely-Pippi Kapai (M2 Kapai)

Owner                     Grimley

Time                         47.87, 1:11.40, 1:35.43, 1:47.43

Overall

Swarley Kapai        32.95 midpack early, wide rally, clear

Smokin Nebulae     1.90 dropped well back, smart late run, second best

Lucky You                 2.40 set pace, tired in lane

Pretty Little Pirate   12.25 even effort

Triptych                     *1.75 no threat

Tennessee Titan      78.55 pressed, faded

Viking Amy               14.50 wide break, weakened badly

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES