HOT SPRINGS -- Swing and Sway called the shots as her season of stakes superlatives continued at Oaklawn Park.
Swing and Sway, a 4-year-old daughter of Maclean's Music ridden by David Cabrera and trained by Ron Moquett, let Cabrera know early the way she wanted to go in the $150,000 6-furlong Carousel Stakes for fillies and mares 4 years old and up. Cabrera responded with a significant adjustment and rode her to a half-length victory over a sloppy track in 1:11.20 before an estimated crowd of 20,000 on Saturday.
Thoughtless finished second at 9-1, 1¾ lengths ahead of even-money favorite Vertical Oak, third in the field of five.
Cabrera rode Swing and Sway in tight quarters between Vertical Oak and the rail as Vertical Oak led her and Mythical Tale, the 2-1 second choice, through an opening quarter-mile in 22.32. As the top three moved into the turn, Cabrera advanced Swing and Sway within a nose of Vertical Oak's lead. He said his filly wanted none of it, so he let her drop back until the others in the lead pack cleared a path to the middle of the track.
Cabrera moved Swing and Sway out to the right flanks of the leaders. She then moved forward as the field turned for home and used her renewed momentum to take control and hold off a late charge by Thoughtless through the wire.
Moquett said he wasn't sure what Cabrera had in mind.
"I was questioning the move at the quarter pole, and then I was stating David's brilliance in the stretch," Moquett said. "Trainer's play-by-play: 'What are you doing? Oh yeah, great. That worked great.' Not only is she talented, but now she's improving with consistency. That could make for a really fun rest of the year."
It's been good so far for Swing and Sway, beginning with a win in Oaklawn's American Beauty Stakes on Jan. 27, and a third-place finish in the Spring Fever Stakes' field of 10 on March 3.
"I thought if she wanted to be on the lead, I would let her," Cabrera said. "But I could see she was a little bit intimidated, so I just decided to let her drop back, and then, man, she gave it her all today. Mr. Ron had her ready, and I really appreciated it. She was good."
Thoughtless' trainer Mac Robertson sounded pleased by the result.
"We got outrun, but she ran a big race," he said. "The best horse won, but going down the backstretch, I thought we were in pretty good shape, with Swing and Sway hooking. Ron's horse got in a little trouble and checked out of there and still won, so she deserved to win the race."
Vertical Oak's class advantage made her a logical favorite. A 4-year-old by Giant Oak, she entered the Carousel with nine career stakes starts, including victories last year in the Goldfinch Stakes at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa; the Arena Springs Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore; and the Prioress Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The question was whether Vertical Oak's class advantage would adequately offset her six-month layoff. The Steve Asmussen trainee had not raced since she finished last of seven in the Grade II TCA Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., on Oct. 7.
Vertical Oak's depth of quality experience stood in bold contrast to the filly gamblers considered her top race rival, Brad Cox trainee Mythical Tale, a 4-year-old daughter of Tiznow ridden by Gary Stevens in the Carousel, her first career stakes start.
Mythical Tale's most apparent advantage was recent activity. She had raced three times this year before the Carousel, including two races last month, the last of which -- an optional-claiming 6-furlong race March 16 -- she won in 1:09.20.
Stevens said Mythical Tale's finish was a mystery after she followed the early lead only to finish last, 7½ lengths behind the winner.
"I just came up empty," Stevens said. "I was done at the eighth pole. She pulled up well and tried hard, but I wouldn't say she relished the sloppy surface, but I don't want to make too many excuses. She just got outrun today."
Sports on 04/08/2018