Fast-Improving Bullistic Primed for Swaps Surprise

(from Hollywood Park notes)
Trainer John Shirreffs, a man of few words, hopes to let Bullistic do the talking in the $400,000 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on Sunday.

The least experienced starter in the lineup with only four career outings, Bullistic finished a creditable third in his stakes debut in the June 22 Affirmed Handicap (gr. III).

"I'm looking for a little more improvement," said Shirreffs Thursday at Hollywood Park. "He wore blinkers for the first time in the Affirmed to keep him more focused. That was the first time he was that close to the pace. He came from behind before. Where he is positioned Sunday depends pretty much on Valenzuela (jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who rode him for the first time in the Affirmed)."

Bullistic is a homebred owned by Jerry and Ann Moss. He is by Holy Bull out of Delicate Vine, a multiple stakes winner who captured the 1986 Landaluce Stakes here for the Mosses.

Outta Here, who finished fourth in the Affirmed, blew out three furlongs in :37 1/5 Thursday for trainer and co-owner Bill Currin.