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Pleasant Strike soars in Arlington Classic Edward Evans' homebred PLEASANT STRIKE (Smart Strike) took command shortly after the final turn and strode clear to a powerful 3 3/4-length tally in the $150,000 Arlington Classic S. (G3) on Saturday. Trained by Todd Pletcher and piloted by Rene Douglas, the sophomore rated slightly off a trio of early pacesetters early before putting in his best run on the outside, reaching the wire well clear while finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 over the firm turf. The 5-1 second choice paid $12, $6 and $4.60 while keying the $85.40 exacta, $664.60 trifecta and $5,227.40 superfecta (2-3-5-4). Lovango (Capote) rallied into the stretch but could not match strides with the winner late, battling gamely to hold the place. The nearly 8-1 shot paid $8.80 and $6.20. Quasicobra (Wild Rush) was in good striking position early, was outmoved as the field approached the final turn, but closed with good energy in the late stages to earn the show, a half-length shy of second. The 7-1 third choice was good for $4.80 in his stakes debut. Early leader Starbase (Tale of the Cat), who took a brief lead in the lane, held on by a head for fourth and was followed by 6-5 favorite Vaunt (GB) (Averti), Pirate Saint (Put It Back), Beta Capo (Langfuhr), Tom Archdeacon (Aljabr) and Riverside Rascal (Skip Away). Pleasant Strike notched his first black-type score in here, boosting his bankroll to $150,970 from an 8-3-2-1 lifetime mark. The dark bay was sixth in the Hallandale Beach S. in his lone previous stakes effort. The winner was bred in Virginia and produced from the winning Colonella (Pleasant Colony), making him a half-brother to the unraced two-year-old gelding Colonial Kid (Lemon Drop Kid). Pleasant Strike's second dam is Irish champion Minstrella (The Minstrel), winner of the 1986 Cheveley Park S. (Eng-G1), Moyglare Stud S. (Ire-G1) and Phoenix S. (Ire-G1) who produced a trio of stakes winners -- Grade 2 vixen Colonial Minstrel (Pleasant Colony), Grade 3 heroine Minidar (Alydar) and multiple listed winner Unrestrained (Unbridled). Minstrella also counts herself a half-sister to Misty Gallore (Halo), winner of the 1980 Hempstead H.. (G2), Long Look H. (G3), Barbara Fritchie H. (G3), Distaff H. (G3) and Bed O' Roses H. (G3) as well as second in that same year's Beldame S. (G1), Ruffian H. (G1) and Top Flight H. (G1). This is also the same female family as 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam.
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