The Brad Cox barn was perhaps a bit quieter than usual for most of Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby card, but it unveiled one in the finale who could very well play a role in major races later this season with a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy unveiling.
Backed down to 8-5 favoritism off of sharp-looking works, Godolphin homebred Strobe (Into Mischief) zoomed out of the gate from his high draw and quickly cleared. He zipped along through strong splits of :21.73 and :45.34, and never looked back to run up the score to about five lengths in a snappy 1:08.71. Frequent runner-up Bourbon Heist (Practical Joke) completed his sixth career exacta.
Strobe is the fourth winner from five to race out of his dam Flashing (A.P. Indy), victorious in the GI Test S. and GI Gazelle S. and third in the GI Mother Goose S. in 2009 while officially trained by Saeed bin Suroor. Flashing is a daughter of Morning Pride, winner of the 1999 G3 Prix du Bois as a juvenile for trainer Andre Fabre, while the deeper female family includes Canadian champion Key to the Moon, GI Kentucky Oaks winner Seaside Attraction and GISW Gorgeous.
Strobe, a half-brother to Floodlight (Medaglia d'Oro), SW & MGSP-Fr, $111,885, is the 31st 'Rising Star' for his all-conquering sire and, after not producing a foal in 2020 or 2021, was most recently covered by Street Boss.
14th-Churchill Downs, $121,904, Msw, 5-7, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.71, ft, 4 1/2 lengths.
STROBE, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Flashing (MGISW, $633,226), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Morning Pride (Ire), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Wilayif, by Danzig
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,460. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Godolphin LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H Cox.
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