Monomoy Girl won their only meeting – $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Nov.

Swiss Skydiver opened her 2021 campaign with a sharp 2 ¾-length victory in the $300,000 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) March 13 at Santa Anita and now gets a rematch with two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl in the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom. Facing males, notably another future Horse of the Year in Authentic, Swiss Skydiver beat the Kentucky Derby winner by a neck in a stirring stretch duel.Ĭoupled with earlier victories in the $500,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park, $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita and $400,00 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn, Swiss Skydiver was named the country’s champion 3-year-old filly. But you know what? There’s only one thing that’s constant in life – change.”Īfter his career began to nosedive several years ago, Albarado’s fortunes began to change when he picked up the mount on the well-traveled Swiss Skydiver for last October’s Preakness, which was the third leg of the revamped Triple Crown and a race the jockey won in 2007 with eventual two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. He backed into the fence or hit the fence every day, turning in.

I can remember (trainer James Eckrosh) parking in that one spot and hitting the fence every day. I was trying to envision where the (track) kitchen was exactly. “What was in this actual spot, where this hotel is? That’s where the old gap was. “I stayed in the hotel last night and was trying to think what was here,” Albarado said after galloping Swiss Skydiver Thursday morning at Oaklawn. Albarado, who is back in Hot Springs as the regular rider of champion Swiss Skydiver in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares Saturday at Oaklawn, was a guest of the hotel Wednesday night. Oaklawn, as part of a multi-million expansion, is opening a seven-story, 200-room hotel overlooking the first turn. A lot has changed since jockey Robby Albarado was Oaklawn’s leading rider in 19, particularly lately.

Oaklawn casino sky view from central