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Fabulous Strike sprints to Aristides triumph Tea Party Stable Inc.'s homebred FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike) took the lead out of the gate and was never challenged en route to a smashing two-length win in the $159,600 Aristides Breeders' Cup S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The Todd Beattie shipper dictated splits of :22 1/5, :44 2/5 and :55 3/5 before completing six furlongs in a scintillating 1:07 3/5 under very little urging, falling just .05 shy of the track record on the fast dirt. The gelded four-year-old was sent off the 4-5 favorite under Ramon Dominguez and returned $3.60, $3.40 and $2.60 while topping the $47.20 exacta, $133.80 trifecta and $266.20 superfecta (5-7-3-2). "He actually feels like he's got gears," said Dominguez, who was riding the winner for the first time. "He runs very easy, but even when I just ask him a little bit, he goes like he's breaking out of the gate again. He's an awesome horse." Beattie confessed that he was not surprised by Fabulous Strike's stellar performance on the class rise. "I can bravely say that now," Beattie said. "I respectfully didn't say that before because I didn't really know. But it doesn't surprise me or my brother (assistant Richard Beattie). We all felt like that. My brother and I know this horse well, and we expected that kind of race, and to see him come through and do it was just all the more exciting." The fact that it took place beneath the Twin Spires added to the experience, according to the trainer. "At Churchill Downs -- oh my God," Beattie marveled. "We're in fairy tale land, you know? I'm thrilled to death.". Cougar Cat (Storm Cat) traveled in second throughout, tried the winner turning for home and stayed on well to earn the place, five lengths clear of his nearest pursuer. The runner-up paid $9.20 and $4.40 as the 23-1 longshot. Gaff (Maria's Mon) was last early but did the best of the rest to earn the third spot, paying $3.40 at nearly 5-1. Greg's Gold (Lake George), the 9-5 second choice, broke tardily and could never get in contention while fourth, followed by Off Duty (Yes It's True). Saint Anddan (A.P. Indy) and Santana Strings (Wheaton) were withdrawn. Fabulous Strike is quickly making his way to the top of the sprint division, earning his fourth straight stakes win and moving his career mark to 12-8-1-0, $378,132. The dark bay owns wins in the Panhandle H., Christmas S., Sophomore Sprint Championship S., Ziggy's Boy S. and Romano Gucci S., with a runner-up effort in the Gallant Bob H. The winner was bred in the Keystone State and is the first registered foal produced from the winning Fabulous Find (Lost Code). Beattie indicated that the long-term goal is the October 27 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Monmouth Park, with the July 7 Smile Sprint H. (G2) on Calder's Summit of Speed Day the next possible step on the way.
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