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).