Swaps Stakes 2013 at Hollywood Park
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Swaps Stakes is on tap for this Thursday, July 4 at Betfair Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. A purse of $150,000 will be on the line for three year olds willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Hollywood Park's All Weather Track.
A small group of four has been confirmed for the Swaps - race 3 on Hollywood Park's Holiday Thursday card. Post time is 2:01 PM. Let's take a look into the past performances of all four entries for this July 4 Grade 2 stakes.
2013 Swaps Stakes Race Favorites
Java's War - Kenneth McPeek colt was last seen running a disappointing thirteenth in the Kentucky Derby in May. The leadup to the Derby was his most impressive race to date - a win in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes over Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice at Keeneland April 13. Before that was good second in his only after nearly four months away in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby behind Verrazano March 9. He was an OK third in the Dixiana behind Dynamic Sky in October and was sixth at the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs November 24. He showed terrific potential before the Kentucky Derby and will be looking to get back to that solid form as the favorite in his California debut - the Swaps.
Tiz a Minister - has 13 career starts already with three wins, four seconds and three third place finishes. He is coming off his best ever result - a terrific win in the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap on this track after a third place finish as 11-10 favorite in the minor Snow Chief Stakes here April 27. This year he also had an OK fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, a very good third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes behind Hear The Ghost and Flashback and a nice win in the California Breeders' Champion Stakes - his best ever result. He has placed in five of six starts and is second choice on the morning line largely because of his Affirmed score last time out.
Swaps Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Dice Flavor - Patrick Gallagher trained colt made his stakes debut with an upset win in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at 9-1 odds at Golden Gate February 16 after a win and two third place finishes in four career starts. He broke maiden at Hollywood Park in December and had a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita February 1 as well. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap June 2 on this track after an unsuccessful trip to Dubai - an eighth place finish in the Grade 2 U.A.E Derby March 30. Dice Flavor has two wins and two third place finishes in seven career starts.
Swaps Stakes betting at Hollywood Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Chief Havoc - Peter Miller trained colt enters having won two of his last three starts - an Allowance by 4 3/4 lengths at the Swaps distance last time out at Hollywood Park May 30 and a MSW at Santa Anita April 4. Sandwiched in there is a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming May 3. His only graded stakes action came in his first North American start in October - a sixth in the Grade 1 Foxwoods Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park. He should bring the speed but will likely have a hard time holding off the closers in the field.
