Strike Softly too good in Nassau

Strike Softly ($3.20) outclassed her seven rivals in the $336,700 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine, winning the 1o1/16-mile grass race by 1 1/2 lengths under Todd Kabel.

Over a course labeled firm, Murani and Essential Edge dueled through fractions of 24.35 and 46.94 seconds. Strike Softly stalked the leaders along the rail, and was steadied on the turn while inside of Fiery Dancer, who had Corey Fraser aboard.

Strike Softly overtook Essential Edge at the three-sixteenths pole, and drew clear to prevail in a time of 1:39.90. May Night rallied outside to edge Essential Edge by a neck for second.

"She broke sharp, and I wanted to stalk the pace," said Kabel. "I had her nice and settled."

In notching her third consecutive stakes, Strike Softly banked $210,000 for Sam-Son Farm and trainer Mark Frostad.