Can Preemptive Strike Follow Half Brother?

Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson's Kentucky homebred 3-year-old colt Surgical Strike has banked $340,813 thus far, which bodes well for his half brother, Preemptive Strike, who broke his maiden in his second start Aug. 5 at Ellis Park.

Surgical Strike, winner of the Arlington Classic (gr. IIIT), is by Red Giant out off the Smart Strike mare Preemptive Attack. Preemptive Strike, a 2-year-old colt, is by Harlan's Holiday. and also was bred by Seltzer and Anderson.

Preemptive Strike, ridden by Joe Rocco, won a maiden special weight event at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass for trainer Ben Colebrook, who also conditions Surgical Strike. In his first start at Churchill Downs, he lost by 33 lengths on the dirt.

"I couldn't believe how bad he ran, because I really love the horse," Colebrook told Ellis Park media officials. "He has always trained like a really nice horse. The family says grass, and Harlan's Holidays can go either way. But I think we'll take him to Kentucky Downs and run him in the juvenile stakes down there."

Surgical Strike last year broke his maiden in his second start in a six-furlong maiden special weight race on the grass at Kentucky Downs. He also won the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Polytrack at Turfway Park earlier this year.

Preemptive Attack has had six winners—two of them graded stakes winners—from eight starters.