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Arson Squad fires in Strub While many of his rivals were hung wide during Saturday's $300,000 Strub S. (G2), Jay Em Ess Stable's ARSON SQUAD (Brahms) used a ground-saving rail trip to take the 1 1/8-mile test by 1 1/4 lengths under Garrett Gomez. The Bruce Headley-trained gelding stopped the clock in 1:48 3/5, earning a try in the March 3 Santa Anita H. (G1). "We've been pointing to this race, of course, and if he ran like he did today, then that (Big Cap) was right on the agenda," Headley explained. "He's had a series of three races, so a mile and a quarter (in the Big Cap), he'd needed that type of series to really be strong for that type of race. "This is a race I always wanted to win because of the Strub family, which founded Santa Anita," Headley added. "This is where I got all my education and it's really an honor to win this race." Arson Squad broke his maiden last February by 4 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita, before adding a first black-type victory to his record in the San Pedro S. He proceeded to run third in the Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G2) and Affirmed H. (G3), captured the Swaps Breeders' Cup S. (G2) and then finished fourth in the La Jolla H. (G2). Arson Squad made his final sophomore start an off-the-board finish in the Malibu S. (G1) to begin his Strub series quest, but gave notice he hadn't lost a step when a close fourth in his four-year-old debut, the San Fernando Breeders' Cup S. (G2). Objective (El Corredor) utilized his inside post to take the early lead here, setting splits of :23, :47 and 1:10 3/5 while pressed on the outside by Spring at Last (Silver Deputy). In the second flight of runners came Arson Squad on the rail and Brother Derek (Benchmark) to the outside. Entering the second turn, Objective couldn't keep a hold on his pacesetting duties and began backing up as the rest of the field surrounded him. A four-horse cavalry charge rushed down the stretch, but Arson Squad had more in the tank and continued on the inside to record his third stakes victory. With the win, he now boasts an 11-5-0-3 record and $564,450 in lifetime earnings. "I warmed him up quite a bit today," Gomez said. "I wanted him on his toes. I told Bruce that I thought I had him too far back last time (in the San Fernando). He was traveling really well today." Arson Squad was sent off the near 7-2 third choice, paying $8.80, $5 and $3.40 while keying $1 exotics of $35.30 (exacta) and $148.20 (trifecta). Spring at Last held well at the end to nose out Brother Derek for second, returning $8.60 and $4.40 at 10-1, while show was worth $3 at 2-1. Midnight Lute (Real Quiet), the 9-5 favorite, was another half-length back in fourth and followed by Awesome Gem (Awesome Again) and Objective. Fairbanks (Giant's Causeway) was scratched in favor of running in Sunday's San Antonio H. (G2). Bred by E & D Enterprises in Pennsylvania, Arson Squad was purchased by his current connections for $100,000 as a Fasig-Tipton July yearling. He is out of the winning Green Dancer mare Majestic Fire, who has also produced stakes-placed Southern Rebel (Southern Halo).
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