One of the tougher jobs in racing this weekend is being the Gulfstream oddsmaker for the GIII Swale S., where 11 3-year-old sprinters will line up with not much separating most of the field.
Narrow morning-line favoritism lies with Call Paul (Friesan Fire), the lone graded stakes winner among the group. A debut winner over subsequent GI Hopeful S. victor Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) last summer at Delaware, the $210,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic purchase repeated in the GII Saratoga Special S. before running a respectable third in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 6 at Belmont. Filling the same slot after dueling on a hot pace in the GIII Nashua S., he was last seen easily annexing the state-bred Pennsylvania Nursery S. Dec. 1 at Parx.
The top Beyer Speed Figure in the race belongs to Silverton Hill's High Crime (Violence), who earned a 90 for his 7 3/4-length romp here three weeks ago. The dark bay homebred was second debuting at Turfway prior to that.
The priciest buy in the field is e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables' Seismic Jolt (Kantharos), who hammered for $800,000 at OBS April. Failing to find the mark in two turf outings to start his career, the chestnut has been a new horse on dirt, cruising to a five-length graduation on the local main Dec. 7 and repeating with another open-lengths success in the restricted Limehouse S. here Jan. 5.
Topper T (Bellamy Road) is an interesting longshot while turning back in distance. An easy winner of the state-bred Iowa Cradle S. last summer at Prairie Meadows, the dark bay was privately purchased after a nose second in the Shakopee Juvenile S. at Canterbury. Trainer Bill Mott showed immense confidence in the colt, entering him in the GI Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but he faded to eighth after chasing the pace and filled the same slot after dictating a fast tempo in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 24 at Churchill. Back around one turn here, he shows a sharp Payson Park worktab for his sophomore debut, capped by a three-furlong move in :35 2/5 (1/25) Jan. 29.
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