The speedy 'TDN Rising Star' Strike Power (Speightstown) made it a perfect two-for-two in front-running fashion.
The Courtlandt Farms homebred, a dazzling eight-length debut winner going 5 1/2 furlongs with a gaudy 102 Beyer Speed Figure here Dec. 23, was hustled to the front from his outside draw to clear the field of six. The 4-5 favorite clicked off fractions of :22.95 and :45.45, let it out a notch as they straightened for home, and, despite remaining on his left lead down the lane, proved much the best.
“There's a lot of anxiety because the first race, as you know, it was just unbelievable–the second-fastest Beyer of any 2-year-old in the nation, fastest going one turn,” winning owner Donald Adam said. “So you wonder, Is that for real? Well, I think it is.”
Trainer Mark Hennig added, “He fell out of there nicely. When I saw the head-on it looked like he broke out a little bit, maybe because he was on the rail last time He's just quick. He's quick away from there right in hand. Then, I thought he had it pretty easy from there.”
No definite plans for Strike Power's next start have been made, Hennig said.
“We'll talk about it,” he said. “There's plenty of options out there. Two turns would be an option. We'll have to see that through, probably. He's horse who seems to relax when he's there and he's quick enough to put himself in the front.”
Pedigree Notes:
Strike Power's dam Gold d'Oro, third-place finisher in the 2012 GIII Suwannee River S. going 1 1/8 miles over the grass at Gulfstream, is a half-sister to MGSW Adriano (A.P. Indy). Gold d'Oro has a 2-year-old colt by Lemon Drop Kid, who brought $15,000 from Cool Hill Farm at last year's Keeneland September sale, and a yearling colt by Bodemeister. She was bred back to Distorted Humor. Strike Power's second dam Gold Canyon (Mr. Prospector), a maiden winner from six career starts, was acquired by Courtlandt for $400,000 as a KEEJUL yearling. Strike Power's GISW third dam Golden Treat (Theatrical {Ire}) is a half-sister to GI Belmont S. winner Bet Twice (Sportin' Life).
SWALE S.-GIII, $200,000, GP, 2-3, 3yo, 7f, 1:22.68, ft.
1–STRIKE POWER, 116, c, 3, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Gold d'Oro {GSP, $232,989}, by Medaglia d'Oro
2nd Dam: Gold Canyon, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Golden Treat, by Theatrical (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN RISING STAR' ($300,000 RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP). O/B-Courtlandt Farm
(KY); T-Mark A. Hennig; J-Luis Saez. $122,760. Lifetime Record:
2-2-0-0, $147,960. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”paramount-sales-bullet-for-strike-power”][bullet ad=”lanes-end-sales-grad”][bullet ad=”winstar-win-20000″][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Gotta Go, 120, c, 3, Shanghai Bobby–Disturbingly Hot, by
Unbridled's Song. ($250,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Lothenbach
Stables, Inc.; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes. $39,600.[bullet ad=”machmer-hall-bredfoaledraised”][bullet ad=”selectsales-shell”][bullet ad=”performance-genetics-selection”]3–Diamond King, 120, c, 3, Quality Road–Akron Moon, by
Malibu Moon. ($55,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP; $235,000 2yo '17
EASMAY). O-D. J. Stable LLC, Cash is King LLC & LC Racing;
B-JSM Equine LLC (KY); T-John C. Servis. $19,800.[bullet ad=”jelm-dampurchased”]Margins: 2 3/4, 1, 3/4. Odds: 0.80, 15.70, 5.40.
Also Ran: Tricks to Doo, Empire Power, Piven. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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