Strummer capitalizes on foe's slow start

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Taking advantage of a slow start by heavily favored One Way Flight, Strummer was able to set modest fractions and cruise to a four-length, gate-to-wire victory in Monday's $70,135 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes before 3,296 at Aqueduct.

Johnny Utah rallied for second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of One Way Flight. Mid Town, The Village Vicar, and Gameboye completed the order of finish.

Despite having not run since August, the undefeated One Way Flight was made the 2-5 favorite. He tossed his head back right before the break and got off last under Ramon Dominguez. Further, he was forced to steady down the backside while trying to gain contention along the rail.

Meanwhile, jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. put Strummer on the lead and was able to get away with fractions of 23.51 seconds and 47.29. Strummer, a New York-bred son of Phone Trick, turned back a challenge from Mid Town on the turn, and cruised to the easy victory.

Strummer, owned by Edward Behringer and Thomas Murray and trained by Tom Bush, is now 3 for 5 - 3 for 3 since adding blinkers.

Arroyo said he was planning to stalk One Way Flight, but "when I saw he didn't break and I was in front of everybody, I came down right away and it worked out."

Dominguez said that in addition to the bad break, One Way Flight "wasn't handling the dirt in his face too well and being surrounded by horses. Despite all that, I was pretty impressed that turning for home, when he got on his right lead, he took off and gave me a pretty good run."

* Fast Laner ($6.90), the favorite, rallied from last under Kyle Kaenel to win the $62,750 Dixie Flag Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Seattle Lake. Pretty Imposing, who set the early pace, finished third.

Fast Laner, owned by SBW Birthstone Stables and trained by Richard Schosberg, ran six furlongs in 1:11.44.