(edited Penn National release)
Tea Party Stable’s Fabulous Strike, one of the top sprinters in the country, is one of 58 horses nominated for the 37th running of the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup on Aug. 1 at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Fabulous Strike, a Pennsylvania bred, resides at Penn National in the barn of trainer Todd Beattie. The 6-year old won the six-furlong True North Handicap (gr. II) June 6 at Belmont Park in 1:07:85. He has won 13 of 22 career starts for $1,179,412.
“The Governor’s Cup is one of two races that Mr. Downey (Walter Downey, owner of Tea Party Stable) wanted to look at as options for Fabulous Strike’s next start”, said Beattie. “We also have the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt (gr. II) at Saratoga on Aug. 9.”
The five-furlong turf sprint is the richest race in Penn National history. The record purse attracted nominations of the winners of four of the five graded turf sprints run in North America so far this year.
Yankee Injunuity, winner of the $200,000 Arlington Sprint Handicap on July 11, is one of seven nominees coming off a last-start stakes win. That group also includes Eaton's Gift and Little Nick, winners of the $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II) and $150,000 Turf Sprint Handicap, respectively, on July 11 at Calder Race Course.
Another leading contender is Silver Timber who is three-for-three this season after winning the $150,000 Jaipur Stakes (gr. IIIT) on July 18 at Belmont Park when he ran six furlongs over grass in 1:07.3. Hero's Reward, winner of the 2008 Governor’s Cup for trainer Dale Capuano, was second to Silver Timber and is also nominated for this year’s race.
Weights for the 2009 Governor’s Cup will be released July 24, and entries taken on July 29.