Seismic Jolt enters Swale Stakes off eye-catching wins

Considering that Seismic Jolt was an $800,000 purchase, no one was shocked when the 3-year-old son of Kantharos scored eye-catching victories in his last two races at Gulfstream Park.

The Florida-bred colt, who was bought at the 2018 OBS April 2-year-olds-in training sale by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables, LLC, was, nevertheless, mighty impressive while breaking his maiden by five lengths Dec. 7 and capturing the Limehouse Stakes by 3 ½ lengths Jan. 9. 

Seismic Jolt will again garner a lot of attention at Gulfstream Saturday when he takes on 10 rivals in the Grade 3, $150,000 Swale Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds on a 12-race card headlined by the Holy Bull (G2), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds. 

“He’s been training excellent,” trainer David Fawkes said. “In fact, I think he’s moved forward since his last race.”

Unlike his maiden score, which was achieved in front-running style, Seismic Jolt victory in the six-furlong Limehouse was accomplished while attending the pace while racing four-wide along the backstretch before kicking away under Tyler Gaffalione.

“I loved the way he ran, because he was just sitting,” Fawkes said. “Tyler got him where he had to be. He could take back or just go. He barely shook the reins at him. He just sat there. As soon as he gave him the slightest cue, he was where he wanted him to be.”

Seismic Jolt raced twice at five furlongs on turf to launch his career, debuting at Saratoga, where he chased the pace and faded to fourth Aug. 13. Transferred from Mark Casse to David Fawkes, he again chased the pace and finished second behind front-running winner Gladiator King Oct. 28.

“I don’t think the horse can’t run on turf. I think the distance was a factor. He doesn’t want to go five-eighths,” Fawkes said. “He wants to break and be reeled in a little bit. When you’re going five-eighths you don’t have a chance to reel anybody in.”

Gaffalione has the return mount in the Swale.