Lookin to Strike Steals the Show in Ontario Derby
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Photo: Michael Burns
Lookin to Strike win the Ontario Derby at Woodbine
Gary Barber's Lookin to Strike scored his first graded victory Oct. 13, when he chased down the leader three-wide on the outside to win the $125,000 Ontario Derby (G3) over 1 1/8 miles at Woodbine.
Moving as fast as the track was playing, it was a veritable battle of the "Strikes" during the early stages of the race as leader Strike Me Down took command of the field from the break to set fractions of :24.46, :49.39, and 1:12.11 through the first six furlongs.
Forcing the pace on the backstretch a length behind the leader, Looking to Strike descended on Strike Me Down as the pack rounded the far turn and dug in to pass the leader.
Charging from the middle of the pack to cut a path through the leaders as the approached the finish line, Curlin's Honor launched forward from her position in fifth to cut between the dueling front runners and challenge. But the effort proved too little too late for the son of Curlin as Lookin to Strike held on to her lead and managed to ekk out the win by a neck in a final time of 1:49.30.
"He's pretty manageable—he'll let you do what you want to do," said winning jockey Gary Boulanger. "He's easy to rate, he's always got gears there. They slowed it down pretty easy in the first quarter. I thought, 'You know what, my horse is comfortable, I'm not going to leave him alone and let him lope and back it up too much.' A couple of guys came to my off side. 'Strike' is always there, so I said 'Okay,' and on the middle of the turn I said 'Iet's see what he (Strike Me Down) has.' I went by him pretty handily."
Curlin's Honor took second followed Mr Ritz another 1 1/4 lengths back in third. Strike Me Down finished fourth ahead of Peppered and Flight Deck to complete the order of finish.
"That was a great finish," said Kathryn Sullivan, assistant trainer to Mark Casse. "They both ran really well. You can't ask for more than that."
Looking to Strike paid $10 to win, $4.90 to place, and $3.30 to show on a $2 wager.
The Derby marked the second consecutive win for the bay son of Lookin At Lucky . The 3-year-old entered the race off a 1 1/4-length score in an allowance optional claiming race Sept. 9 at Woodbine. The colt has won three of his six starts this year and improved his overall record to 4 wins from nine starts with $147,644 in earnings.
Bred in Kentucky by Fedhai Karaman, Lookin to Strike is first foal out the Officer mare Miss Bonnie. He was purchased for $210,000 by the Lookin At Lucky Partnership from the SBM Training and Sales consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.