Duncan Farms’ freshman sire Air Strike sired his first winner from a restricted first crop when his son Professor Nick gained a 5 1/2-furlong maiden particular weight Oct. 28 at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
The bay gelding, owned by Holly Delaney and skilled by Richard Zielinski, had been knocking on the door of a victory since late July when he started a four-race streak of positioned finishes at Thistledown. At Mahoning Valley, Professor Nick put all of it collectively and gained by three lengths.
Professor Nick is out of the successful Concerto mare Starship Made It and is a half brother to stakes-placed winner Pretti Excessive (Warrior’s Reward ).
Air Strike sired solely three foals in his first crop attributable to recovering from equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, also referred to as EPM, which pressured his retirement from racing. The stallion has recovered and since sired 19 different foals.
“He isn’t an enormous horse himself, however he’s throwing yearlings with measurement,” stated Darryl Duncan, with Duncan Farms.
Air Strike is a son of Road Sense out of the successful Tapit mare and a number of stakes producer Omnitap. He was bred and initially raced by Gary and Mary West, who finally offered him to Slam Dunk Racing. For Slam Dunk and companions Air Strike gained the Triple Bend Stakes (G2) and was runner-up within the Zia Park Derby. He retired with a 3-2-1 report from 13 begins and earned $338,810.
Air Strike stands at Duncan Farms for $2,000.