Mark Stanley’s Swift Temper fought back along the inside in deep stretch to post a gutsy head victory over California shipper Santa Teresita in the $200,000 Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) April 18 at Hawthorne Race Course.
Trained by Dale Romans and ridden to victory by Chris Emigh, Swift Temper was sent immediately to the front in the 1 1/8-miles test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. She reached the first quarter in a moderate :24.44, challenged only mildly by Mizzcan'tbewrong. By the time Swift Temper reached the half in :48.90, Santa Teresita had started to get bottled up on the rail, just behind the front-runner.
As Swift Temper approached the far turn, a fresh and strong challenge by Quick Notice appeared to the outside, and for a moment it looked like Quick Notice might ramble on by. But it was not to be.
Swift Temper, drifting to the middle of the track, held off Quick Notice, and when Santa Teresita finally got going, her furious late run came up just short. Quick Notice backed off late but clearly held the third spot, 2 1/4 lengths behind Santa Teresita.
Swift Temper stopped the clock in 1:51.70 on a track listed as fast.
“Mr. Romans said to just get him out of the gate and go with wherever you’re sitting,” said Emigh. “We hooked up with the outside horse and my horse wanted to run off a little bit, but then she relaxed on the backside. I was hoping that she was fit enough, but she was. She really dug in and didn’t give up.”
With the victory, Swift Temper earned $118,800 and won her second grade III stakes. It was her first victory in 2009, but her second win in two lifetime starts at Hawthorne.
Bred in Kentucky by Richard Nip and Omar Trevino, Swift Temper is by Giant's Causeway , out of the Seeking the Gold mare Glasgow's Gold. The 5-year-old mare is now 4-2-2 from 24 starts.
The winner paid $9.20, $3.40, and $2.10 as the second choice in the wagering. The exacta (3-1) paid $19.80.