NEWS
Indian Blessing, Fabulous Strike pointing to Dubai
Posted: Sunday, December 28, 2008 5:48 PM
INDIAN BLESSING
Benoit & Associates photo
Victories on Saturday by champion Indian Blessing and Grade 1 winner Fabulous Strike could serve as launching pads for starts in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) on March 28 at Nad al Sheba Racecourse.
Indian Blessing, the champion juvenile filly of 2007, won the seven-furlong La Brea Stakes (G1) by 1½ lengths on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita Park, marking her third Grade 1 victory of the year and fifth overall. The Indian Charlie filly is a contender for Eclipse Awards as champion three-year-old filly and champion female sprinter
Fabulous Strike scored by 1¾ lengths in the six-furlong Gravesend Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct.
Both Indian Blessing’s trainer, Bob Baffert, and Fabulous Strike’s conditioner, Todd Beattie, have penciled in the Dubai Golden Shaheen as a major target.
“The [Golden Shaheen] will be next for [Indian Blessing],” Baffert said. “That was my plan. I was going to run her here and then freshen her up and take her to Dubai, if all goes well.”
Beattie also is considering the Golden Shaheen for Fabulous Strike, a five-year-old Smart Strike gelding who won the 2007 Vosburgh Stakes (G1).
“We’ll see if this is enough to get him there,” Beattie said.
United States-based horses have dominated the 1,200-meter (5.97-furlong) Dubai Golden Shaheen, winning seven of the past eight runnings, including this year’s edition, which was captured by Benny the Bull in 1:08.70.
