Nonios, Liaison face-off in Swaps

Nonios, Liaison face-off in Swaps

Nonios, the upset winner of the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap on June 3, will

stretch out to 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 2, $150,000

Swaps

Stakes on Wednesday at Hollywood Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, Nonios skimmed the rail at

nearly 16-1 to defeat even-money favorite Liaison by a half-length in the

Affirmed. The son of Pleasantly Perfect was making his stakes bow in that 1

1/16-mile contest, and will have to face the re-opposing Liaison yet again on

Wednesday as well as fellow Hollendorfer trainee Rousing Sermon.

The Swaps will be Rousing Again's first appearance since he finished eighth

in the Kentucky Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs. The son of Lucky Pulpit ran

third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby prior to that classic, and is returning to

the track over which he finished second in both the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity

and Real Quiet Stakes as a juvenile.

Trainer Bob Baffert has also entered a pair in Liaison and Blueskiesnrainbows

in his quest for a record fifth Swaps win. Baffert's four victories -- the

latest with Misremembered in 2009 -- leaves him tied for the most in the race

with fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.

Liaison was winner of the the 2011 CashCall Futurity and Real Quiet, but

hasn't been able to find the winner's circle since the former event in December.

The Indian Charlie colt clipped heels and lost his jockey in the Grade 2 Robert

B. Lewis Stakes at the start of his sophomore campaign, and proceeded to run

off-the-board in his subsequent three starts, including a sixth in the Kentucky

Derby.

Liaison showed signs of his winning juvenile form when returning to

Hollywood's Cushion Track last out in the Affirmed, and keeps the services of

jockey Rafael Bejarano on Wednesday.

Blueskiesnrainbows broke his maiden on the Cushion Track in December, and

just missed to eventual Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero I'll Have Another when

a half-length behind that rival in third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on

April 7. The son of champion turf horse English Channel hasn't taken to the

grass in his two tries thus far, including a last-out ninth placing in the Grade

2 American Turf, and will get Santa Anita Derby rider Joe Talamo back in the

irons.

Called to Serve will be making his stakes debut in the Swaps following a pair

of wins for trainer Peter Eurton. The Afleet Alex gelding defeated older rivals

by a half-length at the Swaps distance in his Cushion Track debut on May 28, and

will have Garrett Gomez aboard.

Completing the Swaps line-up are Empire Way, a full brother to champion Royal

Delta who is returning to Cushion Track after consecutive off-the-board finishes

on turf for trainer Mike Harrington, and All Squared Away, the 70-1 winner of

the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 21.

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