Swaps Fizzles

- The Swaps started out in promising fashion, with Point Determined again in close pursuit of AP Warrior, and track announcer Vic Stauffer noting, as he did in the Affirmed, that it was AP Warrior who seemed to be going easier than his foe. Rivalries are a good thing for the sport, and even one between two horses from a California contingent which has proven to be cut below when raced out of state would add some juice to the three-year old picture.

But the duel, which started out in such promising fashion, quickly fizzled out. AP Warrior checked out rather feebly before even getting out of the final turn. This colt has never followed up a big effort with a similar one. Point Determined tired from his efforts, and a final three furlongs in 38.60 contributed to the winning rally of Arson Squad, who also benefited from a perfect trip behind the dueling leaders, who went to the six furlong in 1:09.85.

However, give credit to the winner, who is now 3-0-3 in six starts, with two of those thirds, and now one of the wins in graded stakes. He’s a $100,000 yearling purchase, and trainer Bruce Headley gave credit to the owners for picking him out.

"I have to give credit to Samantha and Don Devine for finding this horse. They came and asked me to look at him and I really liked him. He has a great top [sire] line, he was very correct and a good mover. He had everything about him that made him look like a runner." [LA Times]

Arson Squad has now won almost $300,000 and has probably already done enough to earn a career at stud. Perhaps like his sire, Brahms, a Danzig stallion standing for $10,000 at Vinery. According to Equiline.com, he has 141 foals in his second crop, two-year olds of this year. He has four stakes winners from his first one, and besides Arson Squad, that includes Up An Octave, who took the Forerunner on the grass at Keeneland in April. No surprise there; Brahms was a grass horse, who took the Grade 1 Early Times Hollywood Derby as a three-year old in 2000. Arson Squad has some turf on his distaff side as well, being out of a daughter by Green Dancer (Nijinksy) (though he has a low Tomlinson of 233).