Yesterday’s Grade 3 seven-furlong Swale Stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park won’t change the complexion of the Kentucky Derby in May. But it could have telegraphed two top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint next November as Yes It’s True and Texas Glitter waged a neck-and-neck war from gate to wire, with Yes It’s True getting the edge in the final jumps to win by a head.

The fractions were fast and furious: a first quarter-mile in :22, the half in :44, and they smoked the first six furlongs in 1:08.3 on the way to a final clocking of 1:22.1. At the wire the dueling duo were 5 lengths clear of Lucky Roberto in third.

“I didn’t want to lock up with Texas Glitter,” Yes It’s True’s trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “That wasn’t the intention. I told (jockey) Jerry (Bailey) that I was going to leave it in his hands because you have a very good horse here.

“I told him I didn’t think he should let Texas Glitter get away and to not be surprised if they’re head to head. That’s how it worked out.”

For Texas Glitter, the Swale was deja vu all over again. In the Jan. 31 Hutcheson at seven furlongs, he battled on the lead with Bet Me Best and lost in a photo finish.