$75,000 Clocker's Corner Looks Like a Scramble to the Wire

Sweet Swap is the 7/2 favorite in the contentious field after placing third in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes December 28.  The John Sadler trainee has six wins in fifteen career starts for earnings of $342,133.  Sweet Swap has fared admirably in three stakes tries, winning the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes and placing fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Joe Talamo gets the call on the six year-old son of Candy Ride breaking from post five. 

Hay Dude looks for U.S. win

4/1 second choice Hay Dude will break from post eight under jockey Kent Desormeaux.  Hay Dude has raced three times in the United States for trainer Phillip D’Amato since shipping from Europe.  The five year-old gelded son of Dubawi finished second in an allowance race January 2 at Santa Anita and has recorded three wins in fifteen career starts.  Hay Dude is winless in two tries against stakes competition.

Mr. Commons looking to end drought

Mr. Commons (6/1) has plenty of back class. The well-traveled son of Artie Schiller is a multiple graded stakes winner in a career that includes 5 wins in 26 starts for trainer John Shirreffs.  Most recently, Mr. Commons finished ninth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes, and fourth in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap.  Mr. Commons has not won since February 4, 2012 when he was victorious in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes.