July 24, 2010 - On Saturday, Swingin Daddyo picked up his first stakes win in the Rainbow Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. Earlier this year, the sorrel gelding by Agouti was runner up in the Ruidoso Derby (G1).
The $873,441 purse surpassed the previous purse record of $567,167, and the Rainbow Derby figures to be the third-richest Quarter Horse derby of 2010. It is behind only the $1,500,000 (est.) All American Derby (G1) on September 5 and the $1,250,000 (est.) Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1) in November.
Guided by jockey Cody Wainscott, Swingin Daddyo ran the 440 yards in a time of :21.205 over a muddy trace while facing a brisk headwind. The gelding beat Smokey Stone by a half length. Favortie Love Samba gave a brief bid but finished sixth.
"We led the whole way. He broke on top," Wainscott said. "He really tries."
Racing for Debra Gotovac of Midland, Texas, Swingin Daddyo is out of the Jody O Toole mare Swingin Otoole. He was bred by the MLA International Company, and he is a half brother to stakes winner Swingin Jess by Mr Jess Perry. Swingin Jess won the Manor Downs Futurity (G1) and Retama Park Futurity (G1) in 2007.
"I cried," Gotovac said after seeing her horse win. "He played with us in the beginning (of his career), but he's a pro now. If he wants to goof off and then act like this, he can goof off all he wants."
Trained by Bradley Bolen, Swingin Daddyo took home $436,721 for the win - bringing his total earnings to $700,477. Out of 19 starts, the gelding has won three races, placed second five times and took third four times. With his most recent win, Swingin Daddyo replaced Swingin Jess as Swingin Otoole's all-time leading money earner.
"He's really a neat horse. He's just a big goof who loves to eat his peppermint (treats)," said Bolen. "He will always have the slowest time when we work him in the morning, but he's a gamer when he races."
Of four crops raced, Agouti has produced 66 winners from 118 starters that have earned a total of $2,722,020. Swingin Daddyo also is the all-time leading money earner for his sire.
The field following Swingin Daddyo was as follows: Smokey Stone, First Klas Fred, Sir Seth, Favorite Cartel, Love Samba, Plain Azoom, Hoponthewagon, Streakin Down and Jess So Sixy.
Smokey Stone is by A Regal Choice, and he is out of the Special Effort mare Madonna Effort. Out of 10 starts, the sorrel colt won two races, placed second three times and finished third once. John and Doug May of Fort Stockton, Texas, own the colt, and he is trained by Fred Danley.
In 2009, First Klas Fred won the Ruidoso Futurity (G1) and the Hobbs America Futurity (G3). That same year, he also was named AQHA Racing Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding. He is by Fredricksburg and out of the Strawfly Special mare She Flies First Klas. Denis and Julie Schoenhofer of Bixby, Oklahoma, own the bay gelding. Mike Joiner is the gelding's trainer.