Switch sizzles to new stakes record in La Brea

Switch kicked off an historic day for trainer John Sadler (Benoit Photos) In light of Santa Anita’s switch from synthetic to a traditional dirt surface in advance of the winter/spring meet that began Sunday, it was fitting that C R K Stable’s SWITCH (Quiet American) dominated the $250,000 La Brea S. (G1) in stakes-record time on opening day. Slicing through along the rail on the far turn, the John Sadler filly quickly dispatched the field and went on to blitz seven furlongs in 1:20.33 on the fast track, eclipsing the old mark of 1:20.45 set by Mamselle Bebette in the 1993 La Brea. Switch, who was just collared late by Zenyatta in the October 2 Lady’s Secret S. (G1) two starts ago, was last seen garnering runner-up honors in the November 6 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Accordingly sent off as the 6-5 favorite here, the bay filly raced in fifth early, several lengths off the pace dictated by Tornado Betty (Comic Strip) through the first quarter in :22. The Bob Baffert pair of Bonnie Blue Flag (Mineshaft) and Always a Princess (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) gave chase wider out, but the real action would take place on the fence. By the time Tornado Betty scorched a half-mile in :43 4/5, Switch had moved well into striking range in third on the inside. As Tornado Betty drifted out on the far turn, Joel Rosario drove Switch through to capitalize on the gift. His mount did the rest from there, pulling away through six furlongs in 1:07 3/5 and ultimately prevailing by four convincing lengths from the late-running Malibu Pier (Malibu Moon). Switch thereby handed Sadler his second straight La Brea trophy, and his third in the past four years.

“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).