From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 1, 2012) — Strong Wind, a speedy California-bred son of Tribal Rule ridden by Kevin Krigger, shook off 3-2 favored Law Dog entering the stretch and went on to score an easy, 4 ¼ length triumph in the featured $100,000 Graduation Stakes for Golden State Series-eligible California-bred two-year-olds Wednesday at Del Mar.
Strong Wind is out of the Memo mare Chalk Face, was bred by Mark Tatch, is owned by Roncelli Family Trust and Tomasic and trained by Steve Knapp. He has two wins in five starts, earnings of $105,360 and was coming off a fourth in the July 14 Hollywood Juvenile.
“There’s so much money in the Cal-bred (restricted) stakes I don’t know why we would want to go against open company at this point,” said Knapp. “I think he can really run.”
Showing sharp speed from the break, Strong Wind dueled with Law Dog and opened up once straightened away in the stretch to score in 1:04.14 for the 5 ½ furlongs.
Just Call Me Al, the 2-1 second choice, salvaged second money, nosing out Lovmeister, with Weewinnin another nose away in fourth place. Law Dog, who stumbled leaving the gate, was eased by jockey Garrett Gomez after fading badly in the stretch.
Strong Wind, the 3-1 third choice in the betting, returned $8, $3.60 and $2.60. Just Call Me Al paid $2.80 and $2.20, while Lovmeister returned $2.80 to show.
For Strong Wind’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/strong+wind4