Fabulous Strike out of BC due to lung infection

Fabulous Strike has been taken out of consideration for the Breeders' Cup Sprint due to a lung infection, trainer Todd Beattie said Thursday. A 5 3/4-length winner of the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park on Sept.o30, Fabulous Strike would likely have been the second betting choice behind Midnight Lute in the Sprint.

Beattie said that Fabulous Strike is undergoing treatment, which precludes running in the Sprint on Oct.o27 at Monmouth Park.

"The Tuesday following the Vosburgh he came down with a small fever, which continued for a few days," Beattie said. "We medicated him to treat the issue but he was not responding, after which we learned he had the lung infection."

Fabulous Strike has won 3 of his 4 starts this year. His only setback came in Calder's Grade 2 Smile Handicap, when he was suffering from an electrolyte imbalance called the thumps, Beattie said. The Vosburgh was his first start since the Smile.

"Naturally, we are devastated," Beattie said. "We really thought the way he ran in the Vosburgh that if we had been able to lead Fabulous Strike over to the Sprint in good shape, that he had a very good chance to win the race. These types of issues happen in this business. "Unfortunately, this particular situation was just a case of bad timing when it came to the Breeders' Cup."

Beattie said he would see how Fabulous Strike responds to treatment before making any plans for him.

"It's disappointing to come so close to this type of opportunity," said Beattie, who has never run a horse in the Breeders' Cup. "But he is a gelding, so he will race again. We'll just have to do our best to get him back to the Breeders' Cup next year."

Fabulous Strike is owned by Walter Downey.