APBs: Derby Day 'Rising Star' Strobe Aiming for Fall Return

With the completely stunned Kentucky Derby day crowd of 147,294 beginning to file out following Rich Strike (Keen Ice)'s upset for the ages, Strobe (c, 3, Into Mischief–Flashing, by A.P. Indy) looked like he could be any kind while closing out the stacked 14-race card with a dominating 'TDN Rising Star' performance.

But where's the Godolphin homebred been since the first Saturday in May?

“He's just back with Brad [Cox] and slowly getting back going again,” Godolphin Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said.

“He had his first little work last week [three furlongs in :38.60 at Churchill Downs Aug. 19]. Hopefully, he'll be back in the fall in a non-winners of one and then we'll come up with a gameplan for him. He's exciting. He's a fast horse and we're looking forward to getting him back on the track again.”

As for the time off, Banahan added, “There were just little minor issues that he's had all along, so he just needed a little bit of time off again. Nothing major, just enough that we had to give him that time. That was all really. He responded well to treatment and rehab. We got him back to Brad's barn relatively quickly.”

Backed as the 8-5 favorite on debut off a series of sharp-looking works for Cox, Strobe blasted out to the front, set fractions of :21.73 and :45.34 and powered home impressively to score by 4 1/2 lengths over older horses while stopping the timer for six furlongs in a snappy 1:08.71. He earned a gaudy 99 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. The field of 11 also included promising third-place finisher Elite Power (Curlin), who has since won two straight for Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

Strobe, one of 33 'Rising Stars' for Spendthrift Farm super sire Into Mischief, is out of Flashing, who carried the famed Godolphin blue silks to victories in the GI Test S. and GI Gazelle S. She has also produced Floodlight (Medaglia d'Oro), SW & MGSP-Fr. Strobe's extended female family includes Canadian champion Key to the Moon, GI Kentucky Oaks winner Seaside Attraction and GISW Gorgeous.

“He's a talented horse,” Banahan said. “It's just a matter of getting him to the racetrack again and seeing if we can put a few races together. We're excited to get him training again and hopefully we can pick up some nice races with him down the road.”