Air Strike breaks through in Triple Bend upset

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday may turn out to be a career-defining race for upset winner Air Strike.

Since late November, Air Strike was winless in three stakes at a mile and 1 1/16 miles, with a second in the Zia Park Derby in New Mexico in November his best result in that span.

In the Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park on April 28, Air Strike was third with a furlong remaining, but faded to finish fourth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths.

“He made a huge move and flattened out,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “It left us wondering, is he a late-running sprinter or is he a miler? He answered the question today.”

In the $201,053 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs, Air Strike closed from last in a field of eight to win by a head over pacesetter Cistron, a 5-1 shot who led by three lengths with a furlong remaining.

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Air Strike ($27.40) was timed in 1:23.12 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“He’s starting to put it all together and hopefully he’ll keep going forward,” D’Amato said.

Jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. rode Air Strike for the first time in the Triple Bend, having worked the 4-year-old colt in recent weeks, D’Amato said.

“I thought he was the kind of a rider that could fit the horse,” D’Amato said. “You have to stay on him and don’t let up. From the quarter-pole, you have to ride him like a bicycle.”

Cistron set a solid pace of 22.10 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.53 for a half-mile before pulling clear in early stretch. At that point, D’Amato was resigned to see Air Strike finish second.

“I thought he would be second in midstretch and he slowly made up the ground on Cistron,” he said. “It wasn’t until the very end I thought he could get there.”

Cistron finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Nero, who was followed by 9-5 favorite American Anthem, Majestic Eagle, All Out Blitz, Law Abidin Citizen, and The Hardest Way.

American Anthem was beaten a little more than two lengths, closing from sixth but never reaching contention.

Air Strike, by Street Sense, has won 3 of 10 starts and earned $279,310 for owners Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, and Michael Nentwig.