The Kentucky Oaks runner-up Swiss Skydiver outbattled Kentucky Derby hero Authentic to become the sixth filly to win the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and the first since Rachel Alexandra in 2009.
Ridden by Robby Albarado for trainer Ken McPeek, Swiss Skydiver out-battled Authentic (Into Mischief) by a neck with nine and three-quarter lengths back to Jesus’ Team (Tapiture) in third.
Purchased by her trainer for $35,000 from the ninth session of the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Swiss Skydiver advances her record to 6 wins, 3 second and 1 third from 11 starts with earnings of $1,792,980.
Like the Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil, Swiss Skydiver is by More Than Ready’s Gr1 winning son Daredevil who now stands in Turkey.
"I love More Than Ready on the top line," McPeek told the Blood-Horse.
"It's hard not to like (broodmare sire) Johannesburg, and she had some distance—her second dam is by Strike the Gold. She was a beautiful package.
"She had a fantastic hip, depth of shoulder, and balance. A lot of guys look at horses differently, but you have to go by what works for you."
It has been a profitable couple of days for McPeek who sent out Simply Ravishing, a $50,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling, to win the Group 1 Alcibiades Stakes.
There will be few better feel good stories than this daughter of the Uncle Mo stallion Lohan out of the More Than Ready mare Four Wishes who was $500 rescue, by Meg Levy of Bluewater Sales, after she had been abandoned at a boarding farm.
