Fabulous Strike’s (Smart Strike) Eclipse Award aspirations took a hit
Saturday amidst a downpour at Belmont Park. The six-year-old gelding yielded
late in the 2008 edition of the $380,000
Vosburgh
S. (G1) on a sloppy track, and did so again here as Fox Hill Farm and Vinery
Stables’ KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse) proved that his late kick was more than adequate
for a six-furlong trip often considered too short for him in the past. After
taking over from pacesetter Go Go Shoot (Songandaprayer), who set splits of :22
1/5 and :45 1/5, Fabulous Strike opened up two lengths in deep stretch. His
weary legs could not fend off the powerful late run of Kodiak Kowboy, however,
and the four-year-old drew off to a half-length win as the 9-2 third choice in a
field of four.
The field was reduced by one with the scratch of Peace Chant (War Chant), so
no show wagering was available. Kodiak Kowboy, under Shaun Bridgmohan, paid
$11.60 and $3 after completing six furlongs in 1:10. Fabulous Strike, the 3-5
favorite, gave back $2.10 and was 3 1/2 lengths clear of 2-1 second choice
Munnings (Speightstown). Go Go Shoot finished last, eight lengths behind
Munnings. The 4-5 exacta was worth $20.40.
Kodiak Kowboy recently returned to the Steve Asmussen barn after a long
stretch with the soon-to-be-retired Larry Jones.
“I was on him when he won the Saratoga Special (G2),” Bridgmohan said.
“He was
a pro even back then. When he was transferred to Steve Asmussen’s barn, I was
excited because I knew I had a shot at getting back on him. Today, when I hit
him left-handed, he really dug in gamely.”
“We’re disappointed with the way he broke through the gate,” trainer Todd
Beattie said of Fabulous Strike. “I thought we were home free until Kodiak Kowboy
caught him. I will have to talk to the owner about the Breeders’ Cup.”
Kodiak Kowboy was named Canada’s champion two-year-old colt in 2007 following
wins in the Victoria S., Bashford Manor S. (G3) and Saratoga Special as well as a
third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). At three, the bay won the Amsterdam S.
(G2) and Sport Page H. (G3) and was only beaten three-quarters of a length when
third in the Vosburgh. This season, Kodiak Kowboy earned his initial Grade 1
score in the Carter H. and also added the Donald Levine Memorial H. to his line, with
placings in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) and Forego S. (G1) most recently.
His record now stands at 22-10-4-3, $1,483,363.
Kodiak Kowboy was bred in Kentucky by Hartwell Farm and fetched a bid of
$70,000 at the 2006 OBS August sale. He is out of the unraced Kokadrie
(Coronado’s Quest), who has since produced an unnamed yearling colt by Lion
Heart and a 2009 filly by Giant’s Causeway. Kokadrie is herself a half-sister to
Grade 1 hero West by West (Gone West), and this is the same family as 1986
Brooklyn H. (G1) victor Little Missouri (Cox’s Ridge).