Fast Parade Marches to Impressive Luck Win

(from Santa Anita report)
Odds-on favorite Fast Parade showed no ill effects from a disappointing trip to Hong Kong in December when he won his sixth straight sprint race Wednesday, dominating Santa Anita’s $77,500 Impressive Luck Handicap at 6 ½ furlongs over the track’s unique downhill grass layout.

With Garrett Gomez gearing him down at the wire, the 4-year-old Washington-bred gelding finished two lengths ahead of Cat and a Half, who nosed out Scheffer for the place. The winning time for Fast Parade, who carried top weight of 120 pounds, was 1:13.13.

Fast Parade, who won his third consecutive race on as many different turf courses, paid $2.80, $2.60 and $2.10. Cat and a Half, ridden by Aaron Gryder, paid $5 and $3 while the show price on Scheffer, handled by David Flores, was $3.60.

Trained by Peter Miller for the partnership of Barber & Barber, Fast Parade was taken across the Pacific to race in the Hong Kong Mile but got ill and was unable to run. The son of Delineator seems to like his races well spaced. In his previous start, he won the Nearctic Stakes (Can-II) at Woodbine in Canada following an August victory in the Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar. He is undefeated in three starts on the grass.

He tracked early leader Set Alight in the Impressive Luck before gaining command entering the stretch. Fast Parade never appeared to be in danger.

The victory, worth $46,500, was his sixth in nine career starts that include a pair of seconds. His lone poor showing came in his only route try at Keeneland last spring, finishing seventh in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington (gr. II). Fast Parade’s latest win elevated his lifetime earnings to $475,013.