Graded Stakes Winner Swift Warrior to Stand in Oklahoma

Swift Warrior * Photo by Coady Photography
Swift Warrior * Photo by Coady Photography

Multiple Grade 3 stakes winner Swift Warrior has been retired to stud at David Spears Racing in Hartshorne, Oklahoma.

The son of multiple G1-winning juvenile First Samurai, himself the sire of 22 stakes winners and counting, Swift Warrior won seven races and $651,953 over five seasons, including stakes wins on turf and synthetic — in addition to multiple stakes placings on dirt.

Swift Warrior had his best season at age 5, when he won the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes at Sam Houston and the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs at 1 1/8m and 1 1/16m, respectively, on turf, as well as the $250,000 PTHA President’s Cup going 1 1/8 on turf at Parx.

As a 2-year-old, Swift Warrior broke his maiden going 1 mile on the dirt at Calder by nine lengths, and later went on to run second in the Foolish Pleasure Stakes over the same dirt surface. The following year, he found himself on the Kentucky Derby trail after an impressive front-running win in Turfway Park’s Rushaway Stakes going 1 1/16 miles over a synthetic surface.

At 4, Swift Warrior added Saratoga’s restricted Win Stakes to his résumé, completing the 1 mile turf event in 1:33.4; he also placed in the Grade 2 Colonial Turf Cup, the Tropical Park Derby and the Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes during his career.

Out of the multiple stakes producer Afleet Summer (by Afleet), Swift Warrior is a half brother to multiple graded stakes winner Dice Flavor ($283,000) and multiple stakes winner Carolina Sky ($174,922). He is from the immediate family of graded stakes winners Shrike and Storm on the Loose, and his fourth dam, Classy Quillo, also produced legendary blue hen No Class, whose notable sons and grandsons include leading sires Smart Strike, Sky Classic and Regal Classic —plus Canadian Horse of the Year and Eclipse Champion Dance Smartly.

Among the standout horses Swift Warrior defeated in his career are Swagger Jack, Doubles Partner, King David, Willcox Inn, Beau Choix, Hoofit [NZ], Bandbox, Crimson China, Duke of Mischief, Boisterous, Mr. Commons and Optimizer.

Swift Warrior will stand as the property of Spears for a fee of $1,000, with special consideration to approved mares or owners seeking multiple-mare discounts.

“I would argue Swift Warrior has the most impressive race record of any stallion ever to stand at stud in Oklahoma directly upon his retirement,” said Spears. “He was fast, sound, and incredibly consistent, finishing in the top three in 19 of 29 starts against top-class competition. And his versatility is the sort of thing that’s rare in today’s Thoroughbred. Swift Warrior won at six different racetracks from New York to Texas — and ran Beyer Speed Figures in the 90s on dirt, turf and synthetic. We’re supporting him mares by Indian Charlie, Macho Uno, Diesis, Go for Gin and Runaway Groom — and we’re eager to speak to our fellow Oklahoma breeders about booking their mares for the 2015 season.”

The deal to send Swift Warrior to Oklahoma was brokered by New Jersey-based bloodstock agent Michael Slezak.