Lead: Swagger Jack, owned by Silverton Hill LLC and trained by Marty Wolfson, pulled away from Tell Tale Friend down the stretch to win his second consecutive start in Thursday’s fourth race, an allowance optional claiming.

Swagger Jack, ridden by John Velazquez, won by a length over Easter Gift while covering one mile in 1:32.22.


“It’s the way we planned it,” Wolfson said. “He’s a much better dirt horse and much better without blinkers. He wasn’t relaxed at all for his race at Calder, but today he was totally relaxed. I wasn’t worried about the weather, as he won on an off track by ten lengths prior. I was more concerned with the competition today, but he handled it well.”

Said Velazquez: “He handled the track very well today. Mr. Wolfson told me he had run on a wet track before and loved it. He also ran his last time here on a dry track and ran very well against some nice horses. He’s still learning but did very well. When we got down the lane by the eighth pole and he was by himself, he started waiting for the others. Other than that he did everything great.”

Swagger Jack was originally entered to run in the Hal’s Hope Stakes January 13.

Who’s Hot: Jockeys Javier Castellano and Jose Lezcano each rode two winners. Castellano, the leading rider, scored aboard He's a Cyclone ($19.80) in the fifth and Runway Ready ($5.40) in the 10th. Lezcano visited the winner's circle with Responsive Eye ($4.20) in the third and Jane of all Trades ($5.40) in the seventh.

Quote of the Day: “I’m hoping to present the trophy to myself." Ken Ramsey, who owns two and bred three of the eight starters in Sunday's $100,000 Kitten's Joy, a race named after his world-class stallion.

Rainbow 6 Carryover: $304,968.07