Another Philadelphia Flyer?

Little Miss Miss | Equi-Photo

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After pulling off a monumental upset at 36-1 with Poseidon's Warrior (Speightstown) in the 2012 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H., Thomas McGrath's Swilcan Stable returns to the Spa with another intriguing Parx invader for Friday's opening day co-feature.

Little Miss Miss (Mineshaft), a five-length debut winner in a scratched-down field of three in Bensalem June 21 (video), will break from post two in the GIII Schuylerville S. Trained by Butch Reid Jr., the $30,000 FTMSEP yearling purchase is a 30-1 shot on the morning line. Maria Remedio will ride.

“We're all very excited to get up there again for another stakes race,” McGrath commented. “I just remember Butch tackling me [after the Vanderbilt]. And, if you've ever seen the size of him, he's built like a football player. My glasses were all twisted on my face and I was a little dizzy getting down to the winner's circle!”

McGrath concluded with a laugh, “So, hopefully he doesn't repeat that if we're lucky enough to do it again Friday.”

The native of Bristol, Pennsylvania, has enjoyed recent success with another daughter of the Lane's End sire in last year's narrow GII Black-Eyed Susan S. runner-up Vero Amore (Mineshaft). Swilcan Stable currently has six horses in training and also races a handful of others in partnership with The Harp Racing Stable–including the multiple stakes-placed Darling Sky (Sky Mesa)–and Sidecar Racing Stables.

The 52-year-old continues to support the aforementioned Poseidon's Warrior with a couple of mares each season, too. McGrath has retained a 25% interest in the Pleasant Acres stallion, who commanded a $6,500 fee for his second season at stud in Florida.

A longtime fan of the sport, McGrath became interested in ownership through his neighbor Joe Lerro, who was a partner in the popular 2005 GI Preakness S. and GI Belmont S. hero Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet).

“I remember saying to Joe, 'If you ever do that again, I definitely want to get in,'” McGrath commented. “Joe and [Cash Is King Stable Managing Partner] Chuck [Zacney] got together and were kind enough to introduce me to the game. We're still all friends and they're real good guys. I was always a fan of racing, but just never got involved. That was my direct introduction.”

In addition to the Cash Is King crew, McGrath, a married father of five, is also quick to shout out Reid for helping show him the ropes.

“He's the only trainer that we use,” he explained. “Butch and I have been friends now since about 2010. I was introduced to him through Chuck and Joe. He's just a really hard-working and honest guy. He has a passion and love for the horses and we really connect with that.”

A venture investor, McGrath is chairman of Advanced Provider Solutions, a medical software company, and is also a partner in the Doylestown, Pennsylvania-based construction company McBrick Building Group.

“I just love the horses, I always have since I was a kid,” McGrath concluded. “There's a romance about the sport, which is very alluring, especially when you look at venues like Saratoga and all of the history there. I really enjoy that part of it. We were new to it [as owners] in 2008, but now we've got six or seven years under our belt and we've been very fortunate so far. It's a very enjoyable sport. We love heading up to Saratoga each summer and we're really looking forward to the beginning of this year's meet.”

 

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