SWAPS STAKES: IT'S CONGAREE IN A BREEZE BAFFERT WINS SWAPS AGAIN.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

INGLEWOOD - Even silent athletes have the capacity to intimidate opponents, as Congaree showed Sunday in a Swaps Stakes victory that amounted to little more than a nationally televised workout.

Congaree and jockey Gary Stevens set a slow early pace, but nobody challenged, so the overwhelming favorite breezed home to confirm he is one of the country's top 3-year-olds and give trainer Bob Baffert his second consecutive Swaps victory.

``He's quite a horse and he showed it today,'' said Baffert, who joined Hall of Fame trainers Laz Barrera (1979-80), Charlie Whittingham (1987-88) and D. Wayne Lukas (1995-96) as the only trainers to win the $500,000 Swaps, Hollywood Park's major race for 3-year-olds, in successive years.

Congaree finished the 1 1/8-mile race in 1 minute, 48.61 seconds, four lengths ahead of Until Sundown and Jamaican Run.

``This was one of his best races. I liked this race,'' Baffert said. ``He had it all his own way and that really helped. When horses like that have their own way, they last longer.''

Congaree, rested since a third-place finish in the Preakness on May 19, broke well and took the lead a quarter-mile into the race. Baffert said before the race he preferred Congaree to take the lead early, contrary to his previous style of sitting just off the pace.

Baffert felt confident when Congaree ran the first quarter-mile in 25.15 and the other contenders, including predicted pace-setter Until Sundown, didn't seem interested in pushing the leader for fear of using too much energy early in the race.

Stevens, aboard Congaree for the first time, followed Baffert's wishes and gave the horse a calm, steady ride all the way. Congaree put away Until Sundown with a strong stretch run, and Jamaican Run, sixth and last for the first three-quarters of a mile, did well to finish third.

``I was real pleased with the way he relaxed early on,'' Stevens said. ``I didn't know if it was going to be possible to get him to go that slow. I don't think he's ever gone that slow early, so he should have been able to fly home.''

Baffert remained typically cryptic about future plans for Congaree, who also finished third in the Kentucky Derby, and Point Given, his Preakness and Belmont stakes-winning 3-year-old, although it is assumed he will keep the horses apart for their next races.

Congaree is owned by Bob McNair, also the owner of the NFL expansion Houston Texans, who begin play in 2002. But unlike Congaree, it's likely his football team will need more than three years to become a successful operation.

``With Congaree it's very personal because we were so involved with him as a young foal,'' McNair said. ``I think any time you have that direct connection in any sport with the athlete, it's a lot of fun.''

The favorites also came through in Sunday's other two big races, as Came Home easily won the six-furlong Hollywood Juvenile Championship and Blueprint sat back during a quick early pace and rallied to win the 1 1/8-mile Sunset Handicap in a three-horse stretch run.

Similar to Congaree, Came Home took the lead early and never was threatened. Metatron stayed close all the way, but Came Home pulled away in the stretch to win by four lengths under Chris McCarron.

In the Sunset, Kudos and The Editor broke away quickly and opened an eight-length lead on the field after a half-mile, but the Irish-bred Blueprint, with Stevens aboard, took the lead at the top of the stretch and, sandwiched between Kudos and Northern Quest, held on to beat Kudos by a half-length.

The Hollywood Park meet concludes today with the leading jockeys and trainers still battling. Alex Solis and Laffit Pincay each won two races and enter today's card tied at 61 victories each. Both jockeys are natives of Panama.

Congaree's victory was Baffert's 20th of the meet and put him one behind Jack Carava, who came up just short in Sunday's eighth when Lotsacoins (with Solis aboard) beat Smokeville by a nose.

Solis is scheduled to ride in seven races today, including the featured Estrapade Stakes aboard heavy morning-line favorite The Seven Seas, and Pincay has six scheduled rides. Carava has four horses on the card and Baffert just one.