Owner Rex Ellsworth

The owner of Santa Anita Derby winner Swaps has acquired, since the days when he worked as a $50-a-week cowhand on his father's Safford, Ariz. ranch, both a thorough knowledge of breeding and a phenomenal eye for good conformation. These assets make Rex Ellsworth, 46, today's most successful California breeder.

Ellsworth started the climb up in 1933 with a round trip to the Lexington, Ky. sales in a rented truck and $600, which went for six mares and two weanlings. After the war he went abroad with an eye to buying the stallion Nasrullah, settled finally on the Aga Khan's Khaled, a son of Hyperion, for a reported $60,000. Since then Khaled has sired winners of $1,666,000, including, besides Swaps, the West Coast star Correspondent (total winnings: $202,167). If Ellsworth leaves his Ontario, Calif, ranch to bring Swaps to this year's Kentucky Derby he will bring with him a relaxed manner and a set of quiet habits. Should Swaps win the big race, Ellsworth will leave the mint julep celebrating to the accompanying Californians. He doesn't drink.