Trainer Kenny McPeek has assigned a new jockey to Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up Swiss Skydiver for the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course. Robby Albarado will have the call on Peter Callahan's Daredevil filly.
Tyler Gaffalione piloted Swiss Skydiver to victory in the Aug. 15 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and was back aboard for the Sept. 4 Oaks at Churchill Downs. McPeek did not confirm Swiss Skydiver for the Preakness until Sept. 26 following the filly's five-furlong breeze in 1:00 4/5 at the Louisville track. The Daily Racing Form reported that Gaffalione's agent, Matt Muzikar, arranged mounts for his rider at the Keeneland meet, which opens Oct. 2, while waiting for McPeek to commit Swiss Skydiver to the Preakness.
The final jewel of the 2020 Triple Crown will be the first race Albarado will have on Swiss Skydiver. The jockey won the Preakness in 2007 aboard future Hall of Famer Curlin .
Swiss Skydiver faced males for the first time in the July 11 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland and finished second behind Art Collector, who is also expected for the Preakness. McPeek had talked about the 1 3/16-mile Preakness as a possibility for Swiss Skydiver since the summer and decided to send her against males for a second time after Saturday's work.
"I know she will make the distance without any problem," McPeek said. "I think she will like that racetrack. Of course, she has raced everywhere. Whatever racetrack she has raced over she has handled great. It was a tough call between racing against straight 3-year-olds or older fillies and mares or turf, which was briefly thought about. I think she will handle it fine.
"My preference would have been if they wrote a race back like the Alabama back for this week. But that doesn't exist. There are no 3-year-old filly grade 1s. She gets a little bit of weight off, and she's continuing to do good."
A victory against the boys would greatly enhance Swiss Skydiver's quest for year-end honors.
"I think if she wins a race like this, you've got to include her (as) possible Horse of the Year," McPeek said. "She's danced every dance and she's been hickory and she had entertained the fan base like probably no filly in years. I think it's a chance to make history."
The other dirt option for McPeek prior to the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland was the Oct. 4 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1), also at Keeneland.
Preakness entries will be taken Monday. Swiss Skydiver will ship to Maryland from Kentucky on Tuesday.
"It will be interesting to see where she draws," McPeek said. "I think she runs better from the outside, and I think drawing the 1 hole cost her the Oaks. I think she got pinned down in there, and if my rider had stayed inside, he probably would have won. But he went around. Hindsight is 20/20. It is what it is."
Ny Traffic Likely for Preakness
Ny Traffic breezed a half-mile in :48 Sunday at Churchill Downs to the satisfaction of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who stopped just short of committing the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) runner-up to the Preakness.
"Most likely he's going to go, but tomorrow we'll make the decision. We were very happy with the work," said Joseph, who trains the colt for John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman, and Team Hanley.
Ny Traffic's clocking was the second-fastest of 88 at the distance.
Sunday's workout was his first since finishing eighth in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), in which he was a forward factor early before weakening in the stretch. He exited the Derby with a cut on his left front ankle.
The son of Cross Traffic lost by a nose to eventual Kentucky Derby winner Authentic in the July 18 Haskell at Monmouth Park.
