Woodbine: Swift Delivery seeks 1st graded win in Ontario Derby

Swift Delivery, co-owned by NFL star Travis Kelce, chases his first stakes success in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby on Saturday at Woodbine.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Swift Delivery, a 3-year-old son of Not This Time out of the Rockport Harbor mare Raegen Harper, arrives at the 1 1/8-mile main track tilt for sophomores off a second over one mile of turf in the Toronto Cup Stakes on Aug. 31.

“I thought it was good,” Casse said of the first stakes engagement. “He may be a little better on the all-weather, at least that is what it looks like. It was a solid race. Was it his best race? Probably not. He’s doing well, and we are anxious to get back on the all-weather track.”

On Aug. 27, Barry Irwin, founder and CEO of Team Valor International, announced that the Zoldan Family, owners of Phantom Fireworks, and Kelce, the three-time Super Bowl champion and boyfriend of music megastar Taylor Swift, acquired a significant share of Team Valor's interest in Swift Delivery, who Team Valor owns with Gary Barber.

Bred in Kentucky by Hunt-Steeple Hill, the grey made his first four starts at Woodbine.

“We thought he was one of our better horses as a 2-year-old, but it just never transferred over into the afternoons,” Casse said. “So his 2-year-old year was very disappointing. During the wintertime, we gelded him and gave him a bit of a break. Once we started back training him, I could see a difference in him.

"We always had high expectations for him, he has a very good pedigree, and it took him a while to show his ability. I could see him training very well this winter at our training center. He was a happy horse."

Swift Delivery launched his 3-year-old campaign with a pair of races at Gulfstream Park in April and May.

After consecutive thirds in Florida, he came back to compete at Woodbine.

His maiden score came for Team Valor and Barber in an allowance race on June 23, a 16 1/2-length head-turning triumph when Barber was the sole owner.

One race later, Swift Delivery was back in the winner’s circle courtesy of a 1 1/4-length score at 1 1/6 miles over the inner turf.

“When he won that race by 16 1/2 lengths, I watched the finish with my mouth open,” recalled Casse. “When he won the other in July on the inner turf, he drew post 11. I told Gary and Barry that this horse would have to be Superman to win that race from there.”

Casse is hopeful Swift Delivery, who sports a record of 9: 2-1-2, is sitting on a big performance.

"I think the distance is good for him and he likes the all-weather, so hopefully it translates into a strong effort on Saturday."

The 16-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s champion trainer, who already has set the record for most Woodbine stakes wins, 30, by a conditioner in a year, is thrilled to see fans of racing and music take an interest in Swift Delivery.

“It was nice to see everyone that came out to see him. Hopefully, we get to see that again this Saturday. Anything that is good for racing makes me happy.”

The field also includes Breeders’ Stakes winner Roscar, Durham Cup Stakes (G3) winner Dresden Row and 2023 Coronation Futurity Stakes winner Babbo.