By J.N. Campbell
Like an everlasting gobstopper, Swamp King (Silver State–El Piba, by Lookin At Lucky) kept going to best his opponents at second asking in a Pea Patch maiden on Sunday. Getting his picture taken was the signal that his freshman sire celebrated his first winner.
Owned by Claiborne Farm, the dark bay made his first start over the grass at Ellis and was well-beaten July 21. Fitted with blinkers and off as a 5-1 shot here, the 2-year-old bided his time along the rail as a scramble for supremacy between longshots ensued up front around the first turn. Getting into action up the backstretch, Swamp King took the controls and tried his best to separate himself from the rest of the field around the far turn. The colt dug deep down the lane and despite heavy pressure from Epic Horsepower (Not This Time) and a late-run from favorite Fulleffort (Liam's Map) got the job done at the wire.
A half-sister to MSW Mobil Solution (Mobil) and the dam of GSW West Coast Belle (Tapit), the winner's dam is responsible for a yearling colt by Jackie's Warrior and a March colt by Mandaloun. She visited Army Mule for next season.
During his lucrative racing career, Steve Asmussen trainee Silver State rattled off six wins in a row for co-owners Ron Winchell and Willis Horton, which included the GII Oaklawn Handicap and GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Mile Handicap. This first-crop sire (by Hard Spun)–who stands at Claiborne for a stud fee of $10,000–has 126 foals of racing age to his credit.
6th-Ellis, $99,844, Msw, 8-17, 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.64, fm, neck.
SWAMP KING (c, 2, Silver State–La Piba {SW, $157,001}, by Lookin At Lucky) Sales History: $60,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $70,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $59,526. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-Claiborne Farm; B-Clarkland Farm LLC (KY); T-Riley Mott.
🐊👑 Swamp King hangs on to win R6 at @ellisparkracing at 5/1 odds for trainer @riley_mott with @a_concepcion16 in the saddle!
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/lx4qXnBsba
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 17, 2025
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