David Cassidy on the Web
Sultress of Swing stays on front end for first win
May 4, 2002
www.nybreds.com
In her seven previous placings, New York-bred SULTRESS OF SWING had raced close to or on the front end -- whether in sprints (three times), a mile (once) routes (three times), on dirt (five times) or turf (twice). In Aqueduct's third race on Saturday, a $41,000 restricted maiden special for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, going six furlongs, that strategy resulted in the four-year-old filly's first win.
Never unplaced in three starts at Aqueduct this year and with jockey Javier Castellano up for the fourth consecutive time, Sultress of Swing was sent off the 2.70-to-1 second choice among eight starters, breaking on top from the sixth post position and contesting the early pace while three wide. After a first quarter in 22.63 and a second quarter in 23.94, she was a half-length in front entering the stretch, and by the eighth pole she was ahead by 2 1/2 lengths with a five-furlong split of 59.61. The dark bay filly's margin at the wire was 3 1/4 lengths in front of 2.65-to-1 favorite Gold Oxide, who was making her first start and veered twice in the stretch following an awkward start.
Owned by Deborah Avellino in partnership with television and singing star David Cassidy, who last August purchased a New York-bred yearling colt for $117,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga preferred sale, Sultress of Swing earned $24,600 for her maiden victory, putting her career bankroll at $62,820. In 13 starts, her record is 1 - 1 - 6. She also qualified her breeder, longtime Saratoga sales consignor Bertram Linder, of Hickory Hill Farm in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Manhattan, for a $2,460 breeder award. Sultress of Swing was the first of three winners -- and two New York-bred winners -- saddled at Aqueduct on Saturday by Gary Contessa, who is in a close race with Richard Dutrow Jr. for leading trainer of Aqueduct's 2002 spring meet.
Conceived in Kentucky to the cover of future New York stallion Dixie Brass, who stood his next four seasons in the Empire State prior to his death in January, Sultress of Swing is the first and only named offspring produced by Ceil Cody, a Sky Classic mare bred by Linder. Sold as a 1995 Saratoga sales yearling to William S. Farish for $45,000, Ceil Cody is a half-sister to Grade 2 stakes winner Southern Rhythm ($224,155), and her winning dam is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Box Office Gold ($211,801).
