Sway Away prepares for the Preakness Stakes as Santiva’s withdrawal open chances of his inclusion
The withdrawal of Santiva opened chances for Sway Away to stand in the starting gates of the Run for The Black Eyed Susan. Sway Away worked for the third and the final time for the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes. The $1,000,000 Preakness is to be held on May 21, 2011.
Sway Away was working with exercise rider, Keith Davis, and completed the seven furlongs in 1:27 2/5. Sway Away is trained by Jeff Bonde for owners Batman Stable, Philip Lebherz, Cindy Olsen, Janet Sharp and Glen Wallace.
The son of Afleet Alex also worked on April 30, 2011, under jockey, Brian Hernandez, giving the final time of 1:14. He worked the six furlongs again in 1:11 3/5 under jockey, Davis.
This work out by the colt had him equipped with blinkers. Miguel Carranza supervised the work out. Miguel Carranza works as an assistant to trainer, Jeff Bonde.
He commented on the work out, saying, “We put the blinkers on him for the first time in the Arkansas Derby and they have been on for all of his works here to make him focus better, this was a good work and I got him in 1:26 and 1 to the seven-eighths pole”.
Sway Away finished at fourth place in the Arkansas Derby. The race was held on April 16, 2011. He had jockey, Patrick Venezuela, holding his reigns.
Garrett Gomez will be holding the reins for Sway Away in the Preakness Stakes. Lebherz, the colt’s owner, made this change as he believes Garrett Gomez can handle the colt better
“I think P. Val moved too early in the Arkansas Derby and went after The Factor thinking that if he got him, he'd have the race, we hope Garrett can be more patient. Garret Gomez rode Sway Away in the grade 2 San Vicente held on February 20, 2011. Sway Away was runner up in that race”, said Lebrhez.
Sway Away was unable to participate in the Kentucky Derby because he was short of graded earnings. He had $111,500 in graded earnings.
Lebherz commented on him not making it to the Kentucky Derby, saying, “Being 21st on the money list for the Kentucky Derby was not very exciting”.
The Preakness Stakes has a different mode of inclusion than the Kentucky Derby. It involves a three tiered system for selecting runners. The first seven spots are selected on the basis of graded earnings and then it has two different criteria for the next sets of runners.
The Kentucky Derby may have been graced with a striking attendance this time around but it is the Preakness that has a repute established for having an attendance larger than any other stake.
It is expected that Sway Away will shine in the race under jockey, Garrett Gomez, in the sea of humanity that gathers at the Preakness Stakes.
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