Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Swaps Stakes is on tap for this Wednesday, July 4th from Betfair Hollywood Park. A purse of $150,000 is on the line for horse three years old willing to go one and one eighth miles on Hollywood Park's all weather track.

The Swaps has drawn a quality field of seven for race 7 on Hollywood Park's holiday Wednesday card. Post time is 4:06 PM. Here is a look at the seven entries and their recent performances ahead of this competitive Grade 2 race.

Horse Betting online with Cash

2012 Swaps Stakes Race Favorites

Liaison - Liaison had a tremendous juvenile campaign but really didn't look the same until most recently when he finished second in the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 3rd. Before that was a sixth in the Kentucky Derby, a sixth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, a fourth and an eighth in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis in 2012. Liaison finished well back in the Derby and was over nine lengths behind I'll Have Another in the Santa Anita Derby before that. He has a chance to avenge a loss in his most recent race for trainer Bob Baffert and hopes are that he can regain the form that saw him become an intriguing name coming out of 2011.

Nonios - made his graded stakes debut last time out in the Grade 3 Affirmed and impressively defeated the likes of Liaison. He broke maiden at Golden Gate on February 11th and following it up with a win and a third respectively in a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races at Golden Gate. Lightly races Nonios has three wins and a third place finish in four career starts.

Swaps Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Blueskiesandrainbows - Bob Baffert colt most recently finished a very disappointing ninth in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 4th. He did have a two race win streak snapped with a third place finish in an Allowance Optional Claiming race at Santa Anita February 9th and he followed that with a decent third behind I'll Have Another in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Joe Talamo will get the mount for the Swaps.

Called to Serve - will be making his stakes debut on Wednesday after two straight wins - an Allowance race on this track over this distance last time out and a Maiden Special Weight race at Santa Anita on April 14th.

Swaps Stakes betting at Hollywood Park with OffTrackBetting.com

All Squared Away - had a very impressive win in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on April 21st at Keeneland to follow up a sixth in the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway in March. Last time out was a fifth in the Marine Stakes at Woodbine in May. All Squared Away has two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in 10 career starts.

Empire Way - Has one win in seven career starts. Most recently Empire Way finished ninth and fourth in a pair of Allowance races at Hollywood Park. He followed a second in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes with a ninth in the Grade 2 San Felipe to start 2012. He was fifth in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity and a sixth in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes both at Hollywood Park to end 2011 and is unlikely to contend in the Swaps based on his recent performances.

Rousing Sermon - was deemed a contender at the beginning of the year but has not shown the expected form so far. Last time out was an eighth in the Kentucky Derby to follow a decent third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. His other two starts this year resulted in a fifth in the Grade 2 San Felipe at Santa Anita on March 10th and a third to start the year in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on February 4th. Jerry Hollendorfer has some work to do in order to get the three year old colt back on the radar.


2012 Swaps Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 7 on Hollywood Park's Wednesday card with a Post Time of 4:09 PM.

Post Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Rousing Sermon M. Smith J. Hollendorfer
4-1
2 Blueskiesnrainbows J. Talamo B. Baffert
4-1
3 Empire Way M. Garcia M. Harrington
12-1
4 All Squared Away D. Flores P. Miller
10-1
5 Liaison R. Bejarano B. Baffert
5-2
6 Nonios M. Pedroza J. Hollendorfer
3-1
7 Called to Serve G. Gomez P. Eurton
5-1