Skipshot (outside) refused to give up in the Swaps (Benoit Photos)

Olympia Star Inc's SKIPSHOT (Skip Away) was content to press the early pace set by Sidney's Candy (Candy Ride [Arg]) in Saturday's $196,000 Swaps S. (G2) at Hollywood Park, challenged that rival nearing the turn and just gutted out the head victory on the wire to add a first stakes score to his resume. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden in the 1 1/8-mile Cushion Track test by Joel Rosario, the chestnut ridgling stopped the clock in 1:49 4/5 as the 4-1 second choice.

Sidney's Candy went right to the lead but found plenty of company in the form of Skipshot just to his outside. Summer Movie (Holy Bull) and Alphie's Bet (Tribal Rule) settled into stride behind the leading pair, and the foursome made their way around the track in splits of :24 1/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 4/5. Skipshot put in a mild run leaving the backstretch, briefly drawing even with Sidney's Candy, but Joe Talamo let out a notch on the 1-5 favorite and he once again pulled his way in front.

Sidney's Candy appeared well on his way to a fourth graded score in the stretch, drawing away by 1 1/2 lengths, but Rosario never let up on Skipshot and the sophomore responded, drawing even once more before just getting his head in front as the pair hit the line. Summer Movie was tenacious on the outside, finishing a half-length back of Sidney's Candy, with Alphie's Bet bringing up the rear. Twirling Candy (Candy Ride [Arg]), stablemate to Sidney's Candy, was scratched.

Sidney's Candy (inside) appeared a winner in the stretch but just got caught on the wire (Benoit Photos)

Skipshot paid $10.20 and $2.60 while keying the $1 exotics worth $8.40 (exacta) and $21.10 (trifecta). Sidney's Candy, making his return here off a 17th-place run in the Kentucky Derby (G1) more than two months ago, gave back $2.10 after show wagering was canceled.

"He was training so well up to this race," Talamo said of Sidney's Candy. "I think that last little part just got him. He was coming off a decent layoff so I could see him maybe needing the race. You never know until you get them out in the afternoon. He's still a great horse and he's going to bounce back."

Skipshot began his career running for trainer Bruce Dillenbeck, but it wasn't until he was transferred to Hollendorfer that the chestnut broke his maiden. That came in his three-year-old bow in late January at Golden Gate Fields, and Skipshot stayed on the Tapeta to score in a pair of allowance events. He made his graded bow against Sidney's Candy in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), finishing fifth, then filled that same spot in the Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G3) two back. Prior to this one, the three-year-old led in the stretch of the Affirmed H. (G3) but was just caught and round up second by a half-length. This victory improved his career mark to 10-4-1-1 and he's now earned $213,030 lifetime.