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Swingin Daddyo Is Golden In
Record-Setting Rainbow Derby
RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (July 24, 2010) – Debra Gotovac’s iron runner Swingin
Daddyo turned to gold in his 20th start with a gate-to-wire victory in the
record-setting Grade 1, $873,441 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs on Saturday at
Ruidoso Downs.
The $873,441 purse surpassed the previous record purse of $567,167 and added
$436,720 to Swingin Daddyo’s earnings. Last year’s Rainbow Derby purse was
$480,857.
The Rainbow Derby figures to be the third-richest quarter horse derby of 2010
behind the Grade 1, $1,500,000 (est.) All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs on
September 5 and the Grade 1, $1,250,000 (est.) Los Alamitos Super Derby at Los
Alamitos Race Course in Southern California in November.
Cody Wainscott piloted Swingin Daddyo over the 440 yards in :21.205 over a muddy
race track while facing a brisk headwind.
“We led the whole way. He broke on top,” Wainscott said. “He really tries.”
Swingin Daddyo raced from the inside post position, the same post position he
had on his way to a close second-place run in the Grade 1, $569,000 Ruidoso
Derby on June 12.
Swingin Daddyo, at 7-1 odds, finished one-half length ahead of 10-1 outsider
Smokey Stone. First Klas Fred, at 11-1 odds, was a neck behind Smokey Stone for
third.
Those top-three horses combined for a $2 trifecta payoff of $1,094.
Love Samba, the 5-2 favorite, finished sixth.
The Bradley Bolen-trained Swingin Daddyo’s 19 starts coming into the Rainbow
Derby was more than any competitor and he has raced in New Mexico, Oklahoma,
Texas and Florida. He has used his laid-back, endearing personality to his
advantage to thrive wherever he races.
“He’s really a neat horse. He’s just a big goof who loves to eat his peppermint
(treats),” said trainer Bolen. “He will always have the slowest time when we
work him in the morning, but he’s a gamer when he races.”
Owner Gotovac was overwhelmed with Swingin Daddyo’s victory.
“I cried,” she said of seeing her horse win. “He played with us in the beginning
(of his career), but he’s a pro now. If he wants to goof off and then act like
this, he can goof off all he wants.”
Swingin Daddyo, a gelded son of Agouti, found success last summer at Ruidoso
Downs when he qualified for the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity and the Grade
1, $2,050,000 All American Futurity.
Then Bolen and Wainscott then took Swingin Daddyo on the road. They qualified
for the Grade 1 Dash For Cash Futurity at Lone Star Park near Dallas, finished
third in the $163,000 Hialeah Laddie Futurity at Hialeah Park near Miami and
then raced in the $113,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.
Swingin Daddyo was given a break from racing for April and most of May before
winning his Ruidoso Derby trial upon his return. He then finished a neck behind
Double Down Special in the Ruidoso Derby.
John and Douglas May’s Smokey Stone scored his career-best performance with his
second-place run in the Rainbow Derby. He was the fourth-place finisher in the
Ruidoso Derby and qualified for the Grade 2, $302,000 Hobbs America Futurity
last fall at Zia Park.
The Fred Danley-trained colt was second behind fastest-qualifier Love Samba in
their Rainbow Derby trial.
Denis and Julie Schoenhofer’s third-place finisher First Klas Fred, the 2009
champion 2-year-old gelding, added to his well-stocked stakes resume. The Mike
Joiner-trained gelding won the Ruidoso Futurity and Hobbs America Futurity on
his way to his championship title.
The complete order of finish in the Rainbow Derby was Swingin Daddyo, Smokey
Stone, First Klas Fred, Sir Seth, Favorite Cartel, Love Samba, Plain Azoom,
Hoponthewagon, Streakin Down and Jess So Sixy.