Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Preakness Stakes (G1) Winner Swiss Skydiver, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2020, will be offered at Fasig Tipton's The November Sale, according to owner Peter Callahan and trainer Kenny McPeek.
The 4-year-old daughter of Daredevil will get some time off ahead of the Nov. 9 sale, according to McPeek. Besides last year's Preakness, Swiss Skydiver's four other graded wins in 2020 included the Alabama Stakes (G1). This year she added a victory in the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1).
McPeek said Swiss Skydiver will be consigned by Runnymede Farm. Bred in Kentucky by Winstar Farm, Swiss Skydiver is out of Expo Gold, by Johannesburg.
"It's been an honor to train her over the last three years," McPeek said in a release. "She's sound and healthy. Her owner Peter Callahan and I thought she deserved a little rest from racing. She's a classy filly, a sincere pleasure. She has the heart of a true champion and gave her all. She's an exceptional horse-one of those rare horses you don't see very often."
Swiss Skydiver's win over Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodfor Reserve (G1) winner and eventual Horse of the Year Authentic in the 2020 Preakness was the pinnacle of her racing career, cementing her divisional championship. She won a battle in the stretch over authentic to capture the American classic, run in October last year due to COVID-19.
In completing the 1 3/16-mile Preakness in 1:53.28, Swiss Skydiver ran the second-fastest time in the history of the race, behind only Triple Crown winner Secretariat's 1:53 in 1973. She is one of six fillies to win the Preakness.
After stumbling at the start and finishing seventh in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) last fall at Keeneland, Swiss Skydiver won her seasonal debut in the Beholder Mile at Sant Anita Park in March. She then lost three straight, finishing third in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park in April, fourth against males in the Whitney Stakes (G1) in August at Saratoga Race Course, and then and then fifth in the Aug. 28 Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1) at Saratoga.
She is currently at McPeek's Magdalena Farm near Lexington, where she will remain prior to heading to Fasig-Tipton, the trainer told BloodHorse Sept. 15. The November Sale is a few days after this year's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.
"It's the right time to let her move into her next chapter," said Callahan. "A once-in-a-lifetime horse, she gave me and my family everything we could have possibly dreamed of and more; the biggest thrills we've had in this business so far. I just can't say enough good things about her. We're looking forward to seeing great things from Swiss Skydiver in her next chapter."
McPeek said Swiss Skydiver will be sold as a racing and/or broodmare prospect. He left open the possibility she could continue to race for him if she does not meet her reserve this fall.
Two other McPeek-trained fillies, multiple graded stakes winner Crazy Beautiful and grade 1 winner Simply Ravishing also will be offered at The November Sale. McPeek said Denali Stud, agent, will offer Phoenix Thoroughbred III's Crazy Beautiful, a 3-year-old daughter of Liam's Map; and Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek), and Nehoc Stables' Simply Ravishing, a 3-year-old daughter of Laoban, will be consigned by Gainesway, agent.
McPeek said Crazy Beautiful will be offered as a racing and/or broodmare prospect, Simply Ravishing as a broodmare prospect.
The latter's retirement was announced in April after running below form due to a breathing issue. Bred to Into Mischief later in the spring, she didn't get in foal and returned to racing this summer at Saratoga, running fifth in the Aug. 12 Saratoga Dew Handicap. She was unplaced in her final four starts after going 3-for-3 to begin her career.
"Simply Ravishing, obviously an Alcibiades (G1) winner—we obviously never could get her right as a 3-year-old," McPeek told BloodHorse. "Between Harold Lerner and the partners, we decided to offer her also. She's obviously a grade 1-winning filly with significant value as a broodmare."
Crazy Beautiful has enjoyed a rewarding year at age 3, winning the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), Summertime Oaks (G2), and the Delaware Oaks (G3). She ran sixth in the Alabama Stakes in her most recent outing at Saratoga Aug. 21.
"I'm really proud of all three fillies. They've been fantastic to be around," McPeek added. "I definitely got some big holes to fill at the barn, but we've had a great run with all of them."