Colonel John faces five in Swaps

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow) will return off a

seven-week freshening in Saturday's $350,000

Swaps S.

(G2), and the WinStar homebred will face five rivals in the 1 1/8-mile test

on Hollywood Park's closing weekend. Winner of the Real Quiet S. and second in

the CashCall Futurity (G1) over Hollywood's Cushion Track last year, Colonel

John opened his sophomore campaign with a victory in the Sham S. (G3), and his

Santa Anita Derby win helped make him the second choice in the Kentucky Derby

(G1).

Following a poor break, Colonel John didn't fire his best shot and wound up

sixth at Churchill Downs. He's been given a couple of months off by trainer Eoin

Harty and shows a solid series of workouts in preparation. Garrett Gomez will

replace Corey Nakatani in the saddle.

Improving TWO STEP SALSA (Petionville) merits respect. Four-for-five overall,

the Julio Canani-trained colt made his graded debut in the Lazaro Barrera

Memorial (G3) two starts back and rolled to a three-length, wire-to-wire

decision. He'll enter the Swaps off another impressive front-running score,

recording an easy 3 3/4-length victory in the Affirmed H. (G3) on June 15.

Martin Pedroza will retain the mount aboard the Kentucky-bred.

Grade 2-placed TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero NOWNOWNOW (Whywhywhy) are also entered. Fifth and last in the Irish Two Thousand

Guineas (Ire-G1) at The Curragh in his lone 2008 appearance, Nownownow will make

his first U.S. start since the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park, and Michael Orman

is his new conditioner.

TREVOR'S CLEVER (Stephen Got Even) and MADEO (Mizzen Mast), the respective

one-two finishers in the Alydar S. on May 24, round out the line-up.