Strub Stakes Grade II
For four-year-olds
At a mile and an eighth on the dirt
Santa Anita Park
Purse $200.000
This year the Strub Stakes GII only drew a meager field of four runners each with a distinct purpose and that is winning, even though the field is small each entry has won or placed in there last four starts so this race will be a very competitive race and we may see a new stakes record or a track record being set.
He may not be the best thing since slice bred but Alien Drive has shown consistency in his form winning two out of his last four races and also a runner up spot all at the Graded level, his allowance stint at the end of December can be dismissed as he obviously doesn't like the turf and the distance is right up his alley and so a return to the dirt would mean he could be back in the winners circle.
Another consistent runner in the race is Iditarod Diademe, he has amassed a number of second places in his last six outings and his only off the board placement was in the Breeders Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs last fall. The only concern with this horse is that all of his last few races were at seven furlongs or less and the Strub is at a mile and an eighth. With his speed if he is left untested on the lead he could dictate his own pace.
Virginia Tech Hokie second to
Alien Drive in the Swaps last summer has been on and off the board. He won a mid-level allowance race at Hawthorne in the fall before tanking in the Dirt Mile a month later, he then went on to finish last of three carrying the highest weight in the field in a non-graded stakes at Gulfstream Park, chances are that he would be running for third money as it would be virtually impossible for him to out run the two favorites in the field.
Art Of Success has carved out a pretty decent racing career running mainly in non-graded stakes and a few Graded ones placing second or third. He is a stakes winner on the turf but he has also shown where he is balanced when it comes to surface preference and with today's distance a breeze for him his only downfall would be himself and he more than likely has what it takes to be a top performer.
