Direct Strike (USA) Horse

Country

United States

Foal Date

08-Mar-23

Colour

bay

Sire

Into Mischief

Dam

Day Of Victory

Prize Money

87327

Owners

Qatar Racing Llc, Mountmellick Farm And Hunter Valley Farm

About

Direct Strike is a 3yo bay horse from the United States trained by Brad H. Cox. It is by Into Mischief out of Day Of Victory. The colt has not yet broken his maiden, going winless in five starts. In its latest race at Churchill Downs on 31 May 2026, Irad Ortiz Jr rode Direct Strike to a second-place finish behind Brave Pilot.

Race Record

Event SummaryRunner StatsRank
Churchill Downs 31-May-26 1811m R3 Md $24,000 (of $120,000) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:49.300, SP: 1.67 came out at the start, stalked behind the leaders and from the two path, then the three path and between horses with five furlongs to go, progressed moving outside of foes into the far turn, ranged up to bid outside of the new leader turning for home, battled with that one through midstretch but was turned away in the final furlong and proved second best. 1st Brave Pilot ( J Velazquez 118 ) 2nd Direct Strike ( I O Jr 118 ) 0.00L 3rd Money Man ( J Graham 125 ) 0.00L See full resultsI O Jr 53.5kg 0.00L2 (8)
Churchill Downs 27-Apr-26 2012m R8 Md $24,000 (of $120,000) Barrier 8, Winning Time: 02:01.410, SP: 4.00 set the pace along the inside, shook clear entering the lane, but got collared by an outer bidder at the sixteenth pole and was bested late. 1st Tiernanogue ( T Gaffalione 118 ) 2nd Direct Strike ( I O Jr 118 ) 0.50L 3rd Silver Shot ( J Ortiz 118 ) 5.50L See full resultsI O Jr 53.5kg 0.50L2 (8)
Fair Grounds 22-Mar-26 1710m R3 Md $2,250 (of $75,000) Barrier 4, Winning Time: 01:43.290, SP: 3.00 1st Marauder ( L Saez 120 ) 2nd Tiernanogue ( T Gaffalione 120 ) 0.50L 3rd Double Entendre ( J Ortiz 120 ) 0.75L 5th Direct Strike ( F Prat 120 ) 4.30L See full resultsF Prat 54.4kg 4.30L5 (8)
Churchill Downs 15-Sep-25 1710m R4 Md $8,400 (of $120,000) Barrier 10, Winning Time: 01:46.040, SP: 3.25 pursued from midpack in the four to three path, swung to the five path while inching closer into the lane and ran on mildly. 1st I Did I Did ( I O Jr 119 ) 2nd Roguishness ( J Ortiz 119 ) 1.50L 3rd Beale Street Boy ( L Machado 119 ) 0.75L 4th Direct Strike ( T Gaffalione 119 ) 4.25L See full resultsT Gaffalione 54kg 4.25L4 (8)
Ellis Park 12-Aug-25 1410m R4 Md $2,887 (of $100,000) Barrier 11, Winning Time: 01:24.960, SP: 5.00 was urged off of the pace five to six wide early on, progressed while fanning seven wide into the lane and rallied willingly to miss show. 1st Vost ( F Geroux 119 ) 2nd La Norme De Jour ( C Lanerie 119 ) 2.00L 3rd Hyperlink ( E Asmussen 119 ) 1.50L 5th Direct Strike ( T Gaffalione 119 ) 3.65L See full resultsT Gaffalione 54kg 3.65L5 (11)