4-year-old colt Dotted Swiss, a son of Belmont winner Counterpoint, coasted home four lengths clear of the field in the 1960 Hollywood Gold Cup. While the win was visually impressive, many fans felt that the weight break was what gave Dotted Swiss the edge Having failed to race as a juvenile and limited to only four starts at three due to ankle trouble, Dotted Swiss began his 1960 season with dismal record. He was entered in the Gold Cup more or less on a whim, and received a feather-light load of 107 pounds. The big name in the race was four-year-old Bagdad, a veteran Claiborne Farm handicapper who had claimed wins in the Hollywood Derby and San Antonio Handicap. As befitting his status, Bagdad was burdened with 122 pounds, 15 more than Dotted Swiss Everything appeared to be fair. However, with nearly two months between the weight assignments and the actual race, there was room for improvement. And improvement is just what they got from Dotted Swiss. In late June, the colt that previously had only one win to his name toted 124 pounds to victory in a 1 1/4 mile race at Hollywood, covering the distance in a blistering 1:59 4/5. Since the weights for the Gold Cup had already been assigned, this breakthrough performance could not be counted against Dotted Swiss, and he went to post under only 107 pounds. Of course, he won in a romp, with beleaguered Bagdad four lengths behind. Once again, Dotted Swiss had blazed the 1 1/4 mile race in under 2:00 Some racing fans cried foul, asking why the weights for the race had been set so long before the actual event. Obviously, the 15 pound difference had enormously helped Dotted Swiss and hindered Bagdad. Surely the vastly improving colt should have shouldered a higher weight, in light of his impressive win only a month before? Dotted Swiss proved he was not just a one-trick pony with another romping win 10 days later in the Grade 3 Sunset Handicap, which he won by 3 3/4 lengths. He further won two more stakes races in his career, before being retired at the end of the year. Dotted Swiss stood stud at Whitney Farm in Kentucky, where he sired tragic 1966 Matron Stakes winning filly Swiss Cheese Bagdad, meanwhile, retired to Claiborne Farm after 1960, standing stud there for 20 years before he died in March 1981 after a paddock accident. Among his important progeny were Grade 1 stakes winner Fiddle Isle, 1968 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Gentleman James, 1971 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Turkish Trousers, 1967 Derby Trial winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Barb’s Delight, and Manhattan Handicap winning filly Harem Lady
Posted on: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 00:50:22 +0000
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