Swiss Skydiver

Swiss Skydiver won her career debut by 5 ½ lengths Nov. 16, 2019, at Churchill Downs. The Daredevil filly followed with a runner-up finish in an allowance-optional claiming race Nov. 30 at Churchill in her final start as a 2-year-old.

Swiss Skydiver returned for her 3-year-old bow in the Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 18 and finished fifth, beaten by less than a length. She next finished a well-beaten third at Fair Grounds in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes before getting back on track with a powerful, front-running victory in the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks March 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Swiss Skydiver shipped to Oaklawn Park for her next start, the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes on May 1. She was sent off at odds of 16.10-1 in a race with a 9-10 favorite, California-based Las Virgenes Stakes winner Venetian Harbor, and tracked that opponent in second through the backstretch of the 1 1/8-mile event. Urged by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., Swiss Skydiver engaged Venetian Harbor in early stretch and wore her down to draw clear and post an impressive 2 ½-length win, her second graded stakes score in a row. She continued her impressive run in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks June 6 with a runaway four-length victory.

Trainer Ken McPeek next took a shot with Swiss Skydiver against males in the Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and she finished second to Art Collector in a nice showing. Swiss Skydiver returned to female competition for her next start and galloped to a facile victory in the historic Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Race Course to capture her first Grade 1 win.

Making her next start in the rescheduled Longines Kentucky Oaks Sept. 4, Swiss Skydiver made a bid for the lead near the top of the stretch but settled for second behind 15-1 winner Shedaresthedevil.

Trainer Ken McPeek debated running Swiss Skydiver against males in the Preakness Stakes Oct. 3 at Pimlico, and he decided to swing for the fences the week of the race. Jockey Robby Albarado settled Swiss Skydiver in ground-saving position early in the race and made a decisive move on the back stretch to power through an opening along the rail and challenge Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner Authentic. Swiss Skydiver and Authentic battled gamely through the stretch at Pimlico with neither horse willing to give in, but the filly held on bravely in the closing strides to prevail by a head in a thrilling edition of the Preakness.

Swiss Skydiver became just the sixth filly to win the Preakness, joining Flocarline (1903), Whimsical (1906), Rhine Maiden (1915), Nellie Morse (1924), and Rachel Alexandra (2009). 

Swiss Skydiver stumbled at the start of the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and finished seventh in her final start of the year. Nevertheless, a stellar 2020 campaign including a classic win was more than enough to earn her champion 3-year-old filly honors at the Eclipse Awards.

Swiss Skydiver is out of the winning Johannesburg mare Expo Gold.