Sun Shines on Lost in the Fog in Swale

Edited from Gulfstream Park reports
Lost in the Fog raced his way into the Triple Crown picture Saturday when the 3-year-old son of Lost Soldier rolled to a 4 3/4-length victory in the $150,000 Swale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.

Undefeated in four career starts, Lost in the Fog will likely be pointed toward the April 2 Florida Derby (gr. I) and will also now be supplemented to the Visa Triple Crown Challenge at a cost of $6,000.

Ridden by Russell Baze, Lost in the Fog settled just off early pacesetter More Smoke as they went in fractions of ::22.07, :44.67, and 1:08.96 for the first three-quarters of a mile. Baze let him run in the stretch and the colt rolled by the leader to win in final time of 1:22.21 for the seven furlongs.

Lost in the Fog returned $3.00, $2.60, and $2.10 as the 1-2 favorite. Longshot Around the Cape ran second, paying $9.20 and $5.20, and More Smoke, who led to the top of the stretch, held on for third and paid $7.00.

Bred in Florida by Susan Seper and owned by Harry Aleo, Lost in the Fog is undefeated in four races, which he's taken by a combined 31 ½ lengths.

Trained by Greg Gilchrist in northern California, Lost in the Fog broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park by 7 1/2 lengths. Sent to Arizona's Turf Paradise, the colt won the Arizona Juvenile Stakers by 14 3/4 lengths. In his first start this year, Lost in the Fog returned to Gulfstream Park to win the Sunshine Millions Dash previous to the Swale. He has now earned $272,075.

"The Florida Derby is a possibility, I think the horse likes it here and can do real well," Gilchrist said. "I would say he went from being 75-25 to being 50-50 for the Florida Derby (April 2), and we will put up the $6,000 (supplemental nomination). Other possibilities might be the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) or the race in New York (the Wood Memorial, gr. I). It will depend on how quick he snaps back from this race. We'll be here for a couple days, and we'll talk it over and do right by the horse. If you see him ship out in a week, he's probably not coming back, but if he's not gone in a week, he's staying."

"Whether he can get two turns has never been much of a question in my mind," jockey Baze said in reference to any concerns about distance races for Lost in the Fog. "I'm looking forward to having him go two turns. I can't wait."

(Chart, Equibase)