Beyond the Crown: Baffert wins Swaps

Misremembered turned the tables on Grazen in the Grade 2 Swaps. The latter wired the Affirmed (G3), and the former made all of the running on July 18th. Still think Grazen is the better horse, and he probably would have won on Sunday with aggressive handling. Cool that Bob Baffert won the Swaps with his other horse after Derby runner-up Pioneerof The Nile was retired with a leg injury.

Nick Zito struck graded gold at Delaware Park on Sunday, as his speedy colt Our Edge never looked back en route to a facile win in the Barbaro (G3). The late bloomer has won three straight and might show up at the Spa this summer.

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird had his final Churchill move for his upcoming West Virginia Derby engagement. He traveled four panels in :48.20 on July 20th. He will van to Mountaineer on July 24th and will work once over that surface before the big dance on August 1st.

Papa Clem , a troubled 3rd in the Long Branch on July 11th, worked a solid 6f in 1:12.60 on July 20th. He remains at Monmouth Park and will go next in the Jim Dandy on August 1st or the Haskell on August 2nd.

Speaking of the Haskell, Rachel Alexandra turned in a bullet six furlong move in 1:13.88 at Saratoga on July 20th. Her stablemate Kensei covered the same distance in 1:14.47, and he may show up in the Jim Dandy next.

Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird , also shooting for Haskell glory, went six furlongs in 1:13 and change at Monmouth on July 19th.

Todd Pletcher is back in the three-year-old picture with Munnings. He will attempt a route of ground in the Haskell after spanking older graded extended sprinters. He has the raw talent to give Rachel a run…if he handles two turns.

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