Wire-to-wire win for California Strike

California Strike (far left) with jockey Colin Ross in the stirrups. (Orlando Charles photo)

— Kennard’s Pre Independence Race Meet

California Strike led wire-to-wire in the feature D1 and Lower event at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club yesterday, beating Run Na Na Run by about five lengths.

Driven by Colin Ross, the seven year-old chestnut colt owned by the Shariff Stables ran the one-mile event in a brisk 1m:45.52s to claim the top honours of $400,000.

Sent off as the betting favourite, California Strike started from the inside post and faced little pressure through most of the