Swift Cougar is off to a great start at this meet for trainer Kennedy Lindsey, as the trotting mare has won two of her three starts, and would probably be three-for-three if not for an early miscue in her lone setback.

Swift Cougar, who is a four-year-old daughter of Armbro Tropicana, carries the banner of Mary Harris and Stephen Grollnek and has been handled in each of her California starts by Mooney Svendsen.

She romped home at 3-1 in her local debut; made a break at the start in her next try over a ‘sloppy’ track at next asking and had to settle for second; then made amends back on firm going last weekend in coast-to-coast fashion as the 4-5 favourite.

“I was impressed when I raced against her this summer in Illinois,” Lindsey related when asked about the trotter. “I wanted to buy her, but she had been promised to the Amish, so I ended up buying her from them.

“The first start here was strong, then she was a little fussy at the start in the second one over an off track, but she caught on after that one and went a big mile to get second. Her win the other night was awfully strong and Mooney says she drives like a Cadillac.

“It’s kind of funny, because when she trains she can be a real handful, but when it comes time to race it’s a different story. I expect big things from her, and right now we’re just working on keeping her quiet and working up the ladder. We’ve got our fingers crossed.”

Swift Cougar will get tested in class in her next assignment, as she is set to suit up for Friday night’s Gary Budahn Prep, and it will be interesting to see if she can keep the momentum going.

Gary Budahn Prep brings out full field

A contentious field is set to line up for Friday night’s Gary Budahn Prep with Talkin Tootsie, Big Baller and Swift Cougar among the major players.

There will be 12 races on tap Friday with a first post of 5:55 p.m. The main event has been carded as Race 6. The co-feature is a $4,400 Open II event for pacing fillies and mares headed by Window Wiper.

Talkin Tootsie is a four-year-old daughter of Cantab Hall who is owned by the partnership of Garey, Wieseneck and Johnson with Bob Johnson the conditioner. She has prevailed in her five of her nine starts and looks to have a very bright future.

Big Baller is a 10-year-old son of Panama Hanover out of the Rowdy Yankee mare Charming Spirit who races for the partnership of Siegel, Robinson, Thronson and Reider with George Reider the conditioner and co-owner David Siegel in the sulky.

The veteran made his 2017 debut a winning one last weekend, as he got a perfect pocket journey under Siegel’s direction and came home smartly for the length and three-quarters tally. The 1:57.1 final clocking shaved a full second and a fifth off his previous lifetime standard.

Swift Cougar is a four-year-old mare who has accounted for two of her three starts since relocating from Illinois for owners Mary Harris and Stephen Grollnek and trainer Kennedy Lindsey. She will get tested for class in the assignment.

Set to complete the field are Delta Breezeoflodi, Drink At Last Call, Tour Guide, Hatfield and McCoy, Katie Mouse, Lodi Bank Robber and Franky Provolone.

(Cal Expo)