Having finished first and second against each other in a couple of graded stakes during their young careers, the rivalry between Currency Swap and Trinniberg received some good billing before their last race, the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 25.
While Currency Swap went to the post as the 9-5 favorite and Trinniberg was second choice at 5-2, neither fired that day and the two colts with Marion County ties both disappointed their backers with Currency Swap finishing sixth behind winner Willy Beamin and Trinniberg finishing ninth.
Despite the difficult time in their last race, the two will be going head-to-head again Saturday at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa., in the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes against other 3-year-olds going six furlongs.
The first time Currency Swap and Trinniberg met was last year in the seven furlong Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in September. Currency Swap was just less than a length better than runner-up Trinniberg in the Hopeful but both were on the trail to the 2012 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
A disastrous trip and an 11th-place finish in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby kept Currency Swap from making the Run for the Roses but Trinniberg had the graded earnings to qualify for Kentucky after winning the Swale (G3) at Gulfstream Park and Bay Shore (G3) at Aqueduct, both at 7 furlongs, to begin his sophomore campaign.
Trinniberg would finish 17th in the Derby in what may have been his only career start around two turns because trainer Shivananda Parbhoo brought the son of Journeyman Stud stallion Teuflesberg right back to win the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes at seven furlongs in his next race after Kentucky. Finishing second to Trinniberg in the Woody Stephens was Currency Swap.
Trained by Terri Pomay for Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables of Brookline, Mass., and William Lawrence of New York City, Currency Swap came back to win the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga in July at six and one-half furlongs before the rough start in the King’s Bishop.
Bred in Florida by Stonecliff Farm of Ocala, Currency Swap is by High Cotton, who stands at Ocala Stud. Breaking from post eight with regular rider Rajav Maragh aboard, Currency Swap is the 3-1 second choice in the program for the Gallant Bob.
Trinniberg is the 9-5 morning line choice in the Gallant Bob and he will break just to the inside of Currency Swap in post seven. Willie Martinez will be in the irons on Trinniberg.
Photo by Coglianese
