Swift Temper wins Del 'Cap wire-to-wire

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Stanton, DE (Sports Network) - Swift Temper, ridden by Alan Garcia, used a front running style Sunday to capture the $1 million Delaware Handicap for fillies and mares at Delaware Park. The five-year-old mare covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.41 on a fast track.

Swift Temper, trained by Dale Romans, took the lead shortly after the start while Acoma and Morena dueled for second. Even-money favorite Unbridled Belle was racing in fourth followed by 5-2 second-choice Icon Project and longshot Temple Street.

Sent off at 7-1, Swift Temper proved too much for the five other fillies and mares down the stretch and went on to win by 2 1/4-lengths. Finishing second was Icon Project followed by 2007 Del 'Cap winner Unbridled Belle, Morena, Temple Street and Acoma.

Three-year-old Livin Lovin was scratched from the Del 'Cap. Trainer Steve Klesaris indicated that the filly's next start would come at Belmont Park in the Coaching Club American Oaks next Saturday.

Swift Temper, installed as the 4-1 third choice in the program, picks up $600,000 with Sunday's victory. Owned by Mark Stanley, the five-year-old now has career earnings of $1,033,346 with five wins in 27 starts.

In her last start at Churchill Downs Swift Temper was second in the Fleur De Lis. She was third in the Louisville Distaff in May at Churchill Downs and won the Sixty Sails Handicap at Hawthorne in April.

"It seemed like a logical spot," said Romans about entering the mare. "We thought she would go a mile and a quarter and we thought it might even help. Obviously it did. I thought if Unbridled Belle did not go, we would be in front, but I could not figure out what she would do. We were planning on just getting comfortable wherever we were, but it worked out perfectly for us. When they left us out there two in front going that slow, I knew they were in trouble. I was looking at the fractions and it did not look like at any point anybody wanted to challenge us. I knew if it was going to be a sprint from the quarter pole home, we were going to have plenty left."

Swift Temper returned $17.00, $6.00 and $3.80. Icon Project paid $4.20 and $3.40, and Unbridled Belle paid $2.20 to show.

The 1 1/4 mile Del 'Cap is part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" program. Swift Temper gains automatic entry into this year's $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic on November 6 at Santa Anita Park.

In Saturday's $250,000 Delaware Oaks for three-year-old fillies, Careless Jewel posted an upset victory for owner Donover Stables. Ridden by Robert Landry, Careless Jewel ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.96.