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Switch sizzles to new stakes record in La Brea
"She's a one-pace horse," Rosario said. "She's long with her strides, and she just keeps going, she never quits or anything like that. When I was passing the five-sixteenths pole I got a really clean trip inside. The track feels pretty good. It's a little faster, but I don't think it's an issue." "Not at all," assistant trainer Larry Benavidez said when asked if he was concerned with her being on the inside. "She kind of had the same trip she had in the Breeders' Cup (Filly & Mare Sprint), right behind the speed. She's a pro. She'll go inside, outside, it doesn't matter. That was pretty impressive, huh?" Switch paid $4.40, $3 and $2.60 while keying the $1 exotics -- $12 exacta, $254.50 trifecta and $898.30 superfecta (3-7-10-9). Malibu Pier made an eye-catching move on the inside herself, rallying from far back in a game effort. The runner-up gave back $5.60 and $4.60 as the 6-1 fourth choice. Another 1 3/4 lengths adrift came the 64-1 longshot Shotgun Gulch (Thunder Gulch) in third, who nabbed Always a Princess by a head and provided $11.20 to show. Always a Princess, the nearly 3-1 second choice, capped the superfecta and was trailed by It Tiz (Tiznow), Champagne d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), Tornado Betty, Bonnie Blue Flag, Hard Way Ten (Rock Hard Ten) and Patriotic Viva (Whywhywhy). Pica Slew (Pico Central [Brz]), La Nez (Storm Creek) and Arte Viva (Giant's Causeway) were scratched. Switch's first Grade 1 coup, and her third career stakes score overall, advanced her record to 11-4-3-2, $632,600. A debut maiden winner at Hollywood Park one year ago, the bay was then thrown straight into graded company and acquitted herself well. Switch finished third in the Santa Ynez S. (G2) and an even closer third to presumptive champion Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) and Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet) in the Las Virgenes S. (G1). A subpar fourth in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2) after failing to enjoy the travel to Gulfstream Park, Switch returned to Hollywood and finished second in the Railbird S. (G3). Next time, she gained revenge on Blind Luck when getting the jump on the deep closer in the Hollywood Oaks (G2) and holding her off by 1 1/4 lengths. Switch experimented with turf in the San Clemente H. (G2), winding up a creditable fifth, but rebounded handsomely on Del Mar's Polytrack with a 3 1/4-length victory in the Torrey Pines S. That set her up for her near-upset of Zenyatta in the aforementioned Lady's Secret. Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, Switch sold for $150,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. She is out of Grade 3 winner Antoniette (Nicholas), who has also produced stakes scorer Keystone Gulch (Gulch), an unnamed yearling filly by Grand Slam and a weanling filly by Pleasantly Perfect. Switch's second dam, Tash (Never Bend), is noted for foaling French highweight and sire Mukaddamah (Storm Bird), Group 3 hero Tatami (Lyphard) and dual stakes victress Mariuka (Danzig), the latter of whom would go on to produce Grade 3 winner Lydgate (Pulpit). Switch's fourth dam is Broodmare of the Year Natashka (Dedicate).
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