Preakness Profile: Swiss Skydiver
In the days leading up to Saturday’s 145th Preakness, usracing.com will be publishing profiles of the 11 horses entered in 2020’s final leg of the Triple Crown.
By Ed McNamara
Swiss Skydiver – Courtesy of Churchill Downs/Coady Photography.
Despite her loss to long shot Shedaresthedevil in the Kentucky Oaks, Swiss Skydiver remains the leader of the 3-year-old filly division. In her last six races, all stakes, she has four wins and two seconds.
Trainer Kenny McPeek never has minded taking chances, and he’s already run her against males this year, a creditable second, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, against Preakness rival Art Collector in the Blue Grass Stakes. A 5-furlong workout in 1:00.80 Saturday at Churchill Downs convinced him to take on the boys again.
“Two horses in there look pretty formidable,” he said, meaning Derby winner Authentic and Art Collector. “Beyond that, we ought to be tough. The filly sure is doing good.”
Robby Albarado replaces 2019 Preakness winner Tyler Gaffalione, who will be riding this weekend at Keeneland. Albarado, 47, used to be an elite rider but has struggled the past few years. He won the 2007 Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic on Curlin and also rode 2004 Horse of the Year Mineshaft. He won only 24 races in 2019 and has 21 victories this year.
“It’s not like Robby has lost anything off his fastball or anything,” McPeek told drf.com. “He’s a big-game rider who just hasn’t had many big-game mounts lately.”
RELATED: Preakness Stakes 2020 Horse Profile: Thousand Words
Swiss Skydiver
Odds: 6-1
Post position: No. 4
Jockey: Robby Albarado
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Owner: Peter J. Callahan
Career record: 10-5-3-1
Career earnings: $1,192,980
Top Equibase speed figure: 109
Pedigree: Daredevil-Expo Gold, by Johannesburg
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Stalker
Notes: Her sire is Daredevil and she’s named for a human daredevil, Callie Rasnake, granddaughter of owner Peter Callahan. Late in the fall of 2018, Callahan was looking for a name to tie in with Daredevil. That’s when he got a text from Rasnake, who was spending a college semester in Europe. It said: “Here I am skydiving in the Swiss Alps,” and she really was. His immediate response: “That’s the name — Swiss Skydiver.” … McPeek trained 2002 Belmont Stakes winner Sarava, whose $142.50 win payoff is among the biggest in Triple Crown history … The 58-year-old Kentuckian is 0-for-5 in the Preakness, with his best finish a third by 31-1 shot Senior Investment in 2017 … Five fillies have won the Preakness, with Rachel Alexandra (2009) the last to do it.
Preakness Stakes Odds
| 1 | Excession | Sheldon Russell | 30-1 |
| 2 | Mr. Big News | Gabriel Saez | 12-1 |
| 3 | Art Collector | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 5-2 |
| 4 | Swiss Skydiver | Robby Albarado | 6-1 |
| 5 | Thousand Words | Florent Geroux | 6-1 |
| 6 | Jesus’ Team | Jevian Toledo | 30-1 |
| 7 | NY Traffic | Horacio Karamanos | 15-1 |
| 8 | Max Player | Paco Lopez | 15-1 |
| 9 | Authentic | John Velazquez | 9-5 |
| 10 | Pneumatic | Joe Bravo | 20-1 |
| 11 | Liveyourbeastlife | Trevor Mccarthy | 30-1 |
Ed McNamara is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about thoroughbred racing for 35 years. He has handicapped races for ESPN.com, Newsday and The Record of New Jersey. He is the author of “Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown” and co-author of “The Most Glorious Crown,” a chronicle of the first 12 Triple Crown champions.
