Swift Warrior wires Connally Turf Cup

Swift Warrior led all the way home in the Connally Turf Cup (Ethel Castaneda/Coady Photography) Trainer John Terranova had never run a horse at Sam Houston Race Park, but when looking at options for Swift Warrior, the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup had considerable appeal. He knew his horse liked going 1 1/8 miles on the turf, and the timing of the Connally fit well. What he and his New Jersey-based owners, James Covello and James Dolan, did not anticipate is the ease in which their Kentucky-bred won the firm turf contest. With Jose Espinoza in the irons, the First Samurai five-year-old grabbed command and never relinquished the lead, completing the first quarter-mile in :24 4/5, the half-mile in :49 1/5 and three-quarters in 1:13 2/5. Swift Warrior kept motoring in the lane to finish 2 3/4 lengths ahead of his nearest rival in a final time of 1:49 1/5. This was just the third time in the previous 17 editions of the Connally Turf Cup that a front-runner emerged victorious. Warleigh in 2004 and Mending Fences in 2007 were the only two turf specialists to win in gate-to-wire fashion. “I thought he might end up on the lead,” Terranova said from his south Florida base. “On paper, it didn’t look like there would be a strong pace to run at. This horse is very versatile and Jose knows him well. He looked very comfortable out there tonight.”

Terranova gave high marks to Sam Houston Race Park. He had
shipped Swift Warrior, who was worth $5.80, $3.20 and $2.40 as the 9-5 favorite, in on Tuesday and felt the horse adjusted well to his
surroundings, and obviously took beautifully to the Connally Turf Course.

“He’s a really neat horse,” Terranova added. “He’s always
been a barn favorite.”

This was the first time Espinoza had ridden in Houston, and he had an
enjoyable experience.

“Everyone made me feel at home,” Espinoza said. “The people
were so nice.”

Rosie Napravnik, who piloted Papaw Bodie to victory in the
2012 Connally Turf Cup for trainer Mike Maker, had a solid runner-up finish
aboard King David.

“He ran well,” Napravnik said.

Willcox Inn finished another three parts of a length back in third and was
followed under the wire by Seal Cove, Ocean Seven, Lockout, Marinous, Holiday
Promise, Capture the Flag and Red Lead.

Swift Warrior earned his third stakes victory in the Connally Turf Cup,
having previously scored in last year’s Win at Saratoga and the 2011 Rushaway at
Turfway Park. He ran third by just a half-length in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay last
February and closed out 2012 with a fourth, just a length back of the winner, in
the Grade 3 River City Handicap.

The winner’s share from the Connally Turf Cup boosted Swift Warrior’s
earnings to $340,843 and his career line now stands at 19-5-2-7.

Terranova indicated that the Grade
1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 4 was under
consideration for Swift Warrior’s next start.

Bred in Kentucky by Paget Bloodstock, Nearctic Bloodstock and Carhue
Investments, Swift Warrior is out of the Afleet mare Afleet Summer, making him a
half-brother to multiple stakes victress Carolina Sky. This family also includes
multiple Grade 1 hero and Canadian champion Sky Classic, Canadian classic
winners Sharp-Eyed Quillo and Regal Classic, and Canadian champion Classy ‘n
Smart.

Swift Warrior was an $80,000 Keeneland September yearling RNA in 2009.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com