Fabulous strikes again in Vanderbilt

Fabulous Strike flew home in the Vanderbilt (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

Among East Coast-based older sprinters, Walter Downey's FABULOUS STRIKE

(Smart Strike) currently has no equal. That much became clear following the

$250,000

Alfred

G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) at Saratoga, which the six-year-old gelding prevailed

in Sunday over what was arguably the best assemblage of older sprinters so far

this year.

Breaking sharply from post 6, Fabulous Strike was dutifully rated in second

by Ramon Dominguez down the backside, allowing 15-1 outsider Go Go Shoot

(Songandaprayer) to dictate terms through a quarter in :22 and a half-mile in

:44 2/5. Turning for home, Fabulous Strike took aim on the longest shot, who

surprisingly showed no signs of quitting through much of the stretch. Class won

out, however, as the even-money favorite finally reeled in the pacesetter in the

final sixteenth and drew away for a one-length victory in a time of 1:08 3/5 for

six furlongs over the fast track.

The highweight at 123 pounds, Fabulous Strike returned $4, $3 and $2.30. Go

Go Shoot gave back $8.40 and $3.80 while capping the $40.60 exacta. Kodiak

Kowboy (Posse), the 3-1 second choice, did not turn in a sufficient late kick

and finished 1 1/4 lengths adrift of Go Go Shoot in third and paid $3.10 while

completing the 6-1-2 trifecta worth $99.

Benny the Bull (Lucky Lionel), the nation's top male sprinter last

season, lost for the third time in as many starts on the year when 1 3/4

lengths farther back in fourth. It was some distance back to Eaton's

Gift (Johannesburg) and Fatal Bullet (Red Bullet), the synthetic-loving

runner-up in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).