Swale Stakes has three-year-olds opening 2012

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Lightly raced Ever So Lucky has been made the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $150,000 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The seven-furlong test has drawn a field of 10 three-year- olds with several racing for the first time this year.

Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard conditions Ever So Lucky who will start from post seven with jockey Joe Bravo getting the call. The Swale will be the colt's third career start and is owned by Augustin Stable.

After winning in his first start last November at Churchill Downs the colt finished second at the historic track two weeks later in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes as the 8-5 favorite behind Gemologist.

"I was absolutely delighted with his first race," Sheppard said. "He broke a step slowly and (jockey Julien) Leparoux asked him to move up and it seemed like he took the lead in just a few jumps. He was under pressure on the lead and when Julien asked him to run, he responded and won with a lot left. He ran like an old pro."

Another horse starting for the first time in 2012 is 4-1 second choice Motor City trained by Ian Wilkes. Owned by Lantern Hill Farm, Motor City will be ridden by Edgar Prado from post four.

"He is a confirmed closer, which may not help him at Gulfstream," said Wilkes. "But he's got to get started someplace and he's ready to run. He's been a gelding since before he ever raced, so we don't feel we have to make any one race or another."

After breaking his maiden in his second start the colt was third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity and eighth at Keeneland in the Breeders' Futurity. Motor City closed 2011 with a win in the Iroquois at Churchill Downs.

Starting from post two will be 5-1 third pick Trinniberg and jockey Willie Martinez. Trained by Bisnath Parboo, the colt is making his 2012 debut in the Swale. Shivinanda Parbhoo manages his family's horses with his father as the trainer.

Trinniberg won in his initial start last July. He tired to finish fifth in the Saratoga Special behind Union Rags and then posted back-to-back seconds in the Hopeful and Nashua Stakes. Trinniberg was seventh behind Secret Circle in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint at Churchill Downs.

"That wasn't Trinniberg that day," Shivinanda Parbhoo said about the colt's Breeders' Cup effort. "He didn't like the track at Churchill."

Here is the field for the Swale from the rail out: Quick Wit, Alex Solis, 10-1; Trinniberg, Willie Martinez, 5-1; Silver Menace, Ramon Dominguez, 15-1; Motor City, Edgar Prado, 4-1; Hello Prince, Jose Garcia, 8-1; Bahamian Squall, Luis Saez, 12-1; Ever So Lucky, Joe Bravo, 5-2; Musical Flair, Juan Leyva, 12-1; Seve, Kent Desormeaux, 12-1 and Good Morning Diva, Rajiv Maragh, 6-1.

Post-time for the Swale is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. (ET).