Midtowncharlybrown takes them all the way in Fabulous Strike Stakes

Midtowncharlybrown, the second longest price in the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Stakes at Penn National on Thanksgiving Eve, went right to the lead in the six-furlong sprint and never looked back, cruising to a 2 3/4-length victory under jockey Mychel Sanchez.

The Fabulous Strike, was the third and final stakes on the Penn National card. All three stakes, which were held as races 2 to 4, were won on the lead.

Midtowncharlybrown, who is based at Parx with trainer Ed Coletti Jr., was pressed early by 5-2 Mesotherm but he put that runner away on the far turn and drew off. He paid $22 and was timed in 1:10.15.

"Eddie gave me perfect instructions," Sanchez said. "Usually we sit right behind the main speed, but today Eddie came up with the plan to go and they never caught us."

Rockinn On Bye, who trailed early, finished with a belated bid to be second. It was 2 1/4 lengths back to 8-5 Lewisfield, who beat The Man for third by a half-length after a rough run through the stretch.

The Man and Lewisfield went after Midtowncharlybrown while three and four wide on the far turn. Once they entered the stretch, the pair made contact several times, with The Man coming outward under a left-handed whip.

The stewards conducted an inquiry into the stretch run but made no change.

Mesotherm, who brought a three-race winning stretch into the Fabulous Strike, tired to finish last in the seven-horse field.

The Fabulous Strike is Midtowncharlybrown's first stakes win and his eighth victory from 16 starts. The 4-year-old improved his record at Penn National to five wins and a second from six starts.

"It looks like speed has been pretty dangerous," Coletti said. "He ran a dull race last time, but the track was deep and got us beat there. He loves this track."

Midtowncharlybrown is owned by Uptowncharlybrown Stud and Godric LLC.

Uptowncharlybrown, who stands at Diamond B Farm in Pennsylvania, has turned into a successful stud and has had his fee for 2019 raised from $1,500 to $4,500. His daughter Dixie Serenade won the Grade 3 Victory Ride this year at Belmont Park.

The Fabulous Strike closed out a 50-cent pick four that began on race 1 and paid $2,107.90. The winners were Press Virginia ($6.80), Please Flatter Me ($3.80), Johnny Jump Up ($48.40), and Midtowncharlybrown.