Strike Power looks like future star in Swale Stakes win

Strike Power on Saturday cemented himself as a major contender in the 3-year-old division by rolling to a win in Gulfstream Park’s Grade 3, $200,000 Swale Stakes. Now comes the big question: Can he carry it farther on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail?

The Mark Hennig-trained son of Speightstown turned heads by coming with .33 seconds of a 5 1/2-furlong track record in his Dec. 23 debut, with the 102 Beyer Speed Figure awarded the second fastest for any 2-year-old in 2017, and fastest around one turn.

"You wondered, is that for real?" Donald Adam, of breeder Courtlandt Farms, mused in the winner's circle. "Well, I think it is."

In the Swale, Strike Power broke sharply, went to the front and never looked back, finishing up seven furlongs in a final time of 1:22.68 under jockey Luis Saez.

The colt showed his inexperience in at least one respect, failing to switch leads in the lane. That he still glided home a 2 3/4-length winner speaks to the homebred’s potential.

"When he came to the stretch he was just waiting to take off," Saez said. "The plan was to get to the lead. I know they had the two speed inside but I had the advantage on the outside, so I just broke and was right there. In the stretch he was waiting for the competition.”

Gotta Go, who had already tried two turns in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, got up for second over Diamond King, a previous stakes winner recently transferred to trainer John Servis.

Strike Power returned $3.60 as a 4-5 favorite after leading a field of six through opening fractions of a quarter mile in 22.95 seconds and the half in 45.45.

Hennig said "we'll talk about" going a route of ground in the horse's next start.

"There’s plenty of options out there,” he said. “Two turns would be an option. We’ll have to see that through, probably. He’s horse who seems to relax when he’s there and he’s quick enough to put himself in the front.”