Swans Eye brings connections to first Breeders Crown

After winning a couple sire stakes championships at odds of 129-1 and 55-1 in the past seven weeks, driver Braxten Boyd knows anything could be possible when he makes his Breeders Crown debut behind longshot Swans Eye (Swan For All) in Saturday’s $496,000 Mare Trot at The Meadowlands.

“You’ve got to be in a race to win it,” said the 24-year-old Boyd, who has already set a career high with 310 victories this season and is on the verge of his first $4 million campaign for purses. “It’s a dream come true to get an opportunity like this. It’s exciting.”

Swans Eye will leave from post one in a field of nine. She is 15-1 on the morning line for owner Vincent Campolong, who just recently got his trainer’s license and will send out the 5-year-old mare in the Breeders Crown.

“I aim big all the time,” said the 35-year-old Campolong, who runs a construction company when he’s not working with his horses. “I always shoot for the stars, and whatever happens, happens.”

Swans Eye has hit the board in six of 10 races this year, winning four and earning $35,560. For her career, the daughter of Swan For All-Deweye Or Don’teye has won 15 of 63 starts and earned $250,811. Her victories include last year’s Indiana Sire Stakes championship for older female trotters at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

Last week, Swans Eye competed in a prep race that included male Breeders Crown Open Trot contenders Logan Park, Periculum, and Oh Well. The race was won by Oh Well in 1:52.2. Swans Eye finished fifth, beaten by three lengths. The loss snapped a three-race win streak for Swans Eye, which included a 1:52.2 victory over Open Trot-bound stallion Up Your Deo at The Meadowlands.

“She’s not the most talented, she’s not naturally gifted, but she performs,” Campolong said. “No matter where you put her, she will compete with whoever it is. She races as hard as she can, gives you everything she’s got. She’s really a dream to have.

“This is the best she’s been all year long, so I’m hoping for the best.”

When he was a teenager, Campolong helped his grandfather with his stable and continued to do so off and on over the years. He began working in construction his final year of high school but missed the horses and started to get more involved again several years ago.

“I got tired of doing only construction,” Campolong said. “I love the horses. So, I figured I’d buy a couple and see what happened.”

Boyd, who got his 1,000th career win earlier this year, is enjoying his third consecutive season with more than $3 million in purses.

Two weeks ago, he won an Indiana Sire Stakes championship with 3-year-old filly trotter Black Gold at 129-1 for trainer James Yoder at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. In early September, he won a New York Sire Stakes title with 2-year-old male trotter Variegated for trainer Marcus Melander at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

“I’ve been very lucky to accomplish a couple goals this year,” said Boyd, a native of Michigan who helped his dad, Brett, with his stable before focusing on driving. “Winning a race for six figures was one. Winning a driver’s title was another. That was awesome.

“I could not be more grateful for the opportunities I’ve had this year. I’m just trying to make the most of them. I’ve been very blessed.”

He hopes to make the most of his opportunity Saturday with Swans Eye.

“I thought she was very good last week,” Boyd said. “She’s so nice to drive. You can do anything with her. She is very handy. We’ve got the rail, and I’ve got options because of my horse’s versatility.

“I told my dad I’m going to be lower odds than the other two races that I won for over $200,000 this year. So, who knows.”

All Breeders Crown finals for 2-year-olds will be held Friday at The Meadowlands. The remaining eight finals will be Saturday at The Big M. First-race post time both nights is 6:20 p.m. (EDT). Fox Sports will air coverage Friday from 8-11 p.m. on FS1 and Saturday from 7:30-11 p.m. on FS2.

For Saturday’s complete Meadowlands entries, click here. For free programs, visit the track’s website.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA