Mark Stanley’s SWIFT TEMPER (Giant’s Causeway), who had won or placed in only
four of 18 career starts and only once in her 10 starts prior to Saturday’s
$150,000
Gardenia S. (G3), ran the race of her life in Ellis Park’s marquee event in
winning by 4 1/2 lengths as the 21-1 longest shot in a field of six fillies and
mares. Under Victor Lebron, the Dale Romans trainee brought back $44.60, $18.20
and $8 while keying exotics of $226.40 (exacta), $812.80 (trifecta) and
$1,781.80 (5-3-6-4 superfecta).
The speedy Miss Atlantic (Stormy Atlantic), coming off of a distant
second-place effort behind Fancy Fusaichi (Fusaichi Pegasus) in the Iowa
Distaff, broke on top as expected and led through an opening quarter in :24 2/5
but began to come under pressure from Swift Temper and Kathleens Reel (Lemon
Drop Kid) as she knocked out a half-mile in :48. Miss Atlantic began to fold
soon after as Swift Temper moved to a one-length advantage through six furlongs
in 1:12. The winner was never seriously challenged thereafter, extending her
margin through the lane and finishing a mile over a fast track in 1:37 2/5.
Marquee Delivery (Marquetry), a 5-1 chance who trailed early, was up to
finish a clear second and returned $5.40 and $4.20. Unforgotten (Northern
Afleet), the near 7-2
second choice who made a four-wide bid around the far turn, flattened out late
and finished 3 1/2 lengths back in third, returning $3.60. Fancy Fusaichi, the
4-5 favorite, stumbled at the start then raced close to the pace for a
quarter-mile before losing position and finishing fourth, three-quarters of a
length behind Unforgotten. Kathleens Reel and Miss Atlantic rounded out the
order of finish while Windyindy (A.P. Indy) was scratched.
Swift Temper, whose average margin of defeat in her 10 previous starts had
been approaching 10 lengths, had struggled against far weaker opposition for
quite some time, failing to contend against second-level allowance/optional
claiming foes in two of her previous three starts. Thought of enough last year
to pursue the Kentucky Oaks (G1) under the tutelage of Bobby Barnett, the
chestnut wound up finishing 10th of 14 in that race, 22 1/4 lengths behind Rags
to Riches. Her other graded attempts were not much better, including a 6
1/4-length defeat in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2), a 9 3/4-length loss in the Fantasy
S. (G2) and a 6 1/4-length beat in the Iowa Oaks (G3), plus ugly efforts in
three listed stakes. She eventually raced twice for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin
before joining Romans prior to a fifth-place finish in a July 10
allowance/optional claimer at Belmont Park last time.
Bred in Kentucky by Richard Nip and Omar Trevino, Swift Temper was a $285,000
Keeneland September purchase. Her record now stands at 19-3-1-1 with earnings of
$189,679.
Produced by the winning Seeking the Gold mare Glasgow’s Gold, Swift Temper is
a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Croisiere (Capote). Swift Temper’s third
dam, Canadian champion Kamar (Key to the Mint), produced Canadian champion Key to the Moon (Wajima), multiple Grade 1 winner Gorgeous (Slew O’ Gold) and Kentucky Oaks
(G1) winner Seaside Attraction (Seattle Slew), who in turn produced champion
Golden Attraction (Mr. Prospector), French highweight Desert Lord (Green Desert)
and Grade 1 winner Cape Town (Seeking the Gold). This is the same family as
multiple highweight Swain (Ire) (Nashwan), grass champion Fantastic Light
(Rahy), Canadian champion Square Angel (Quadrangle), and Grade 1 winners Cuddles
(Mr. Prospector) and Love Smitten (Key to the Mint).