Strike Power over 'issues,' set for 4-year-old debut at Gulfstream

Courtlandt Farms’ Strike Power, a promising Triple Crown Prospect during the 2017-2018 Championship Meet, is set to make his first start in eight months in Thursday’s featured race at Gulfstream Park.

The 4-year-old son of Speightstown is scheduled to face eight rivals in Race 9, a 6 1/2-furlong optional claiming allowance.

The Mark Hennig-trained colt launched his career at Gulfstream in spectacular fashion, earning a rare 100-plus debut Beyer Speed Figure while capturing a 5 1/2-fuirlong maiden race in a brilliant 1:02.67. He came right back to capture the seven-furlong Swale (G3) by 2 3/4 lengths before finishing second behind Promises Fulfilled in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (G2) while checking in  2 1/4 lengths clear of champion Good Magic.

Strike Power’s form declined in subsequent starts, finishing off the board in the Florida Derby (G1), Woody Stephens (G2), Amsterdam (G3) and Better Talk Now before heading to the sidelines.

“We were having a few issues with him,” Hennig said. “I think it was more an indication of an issue we were dealing with than his ability.”

Strike Power has had a series of eight breezes at Gulfstream in preparation for his 2019 debut, in which is slated to face Three Rules, the 2016 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series champion who is set to make his return from a 10 ½-month layoff; Reason to Soar, a four-time winner at Gulfstream who will be equipped with blinkers; Dial Operator, a Jason Servis-trained 4-year-old who is set to return from a nine-month layoff after winning four of five career starts; and multiple graded stakes-placed Sweetontheladies.

Hennig said Strike Power has been training forwardly for the first start of his 2019 campaign, during which he will likely compete at sprint and middle distances.

“At this point, I think he’s better suited to be a one-turn horse,” Hennig said.

Hennig-trained Bourbon War, who was a force in the 3-year-old ranks during the 2018-2019 Championship Meet, finished second in the Fountain of Youth and fourth in the Florida Derby but failed to earn enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.

“He’ll run in either the Peter Pan (at Belmont May 11) or the Preakness (at Pimlico May 18),” Hennig said.