The rich graded stakes schedule in New York closed out 2008 with the $100,000 Gravesend Handicap (G3), a 6 furlong sprint over the inner dirt track at Aqueduct. Eight older horses were entered but due to the muddy track, half the field scratched out. Just 3,595 were on hand on a foggy Saturday afternoon. Fall Highweight winner and Breeders' Cup Sprint fifth place finisher Fabulous Strike was sent off as the 3-5 favorite over 2-1 Lucky Island, sixth in his last two starts, the Forego and the Vosburgh, and 9-2 third choice, allowance winner True Quality. 12-1 Good Card, also exiting an allowance victory, completed the field.
True Quality was sent to the lead immediately by jockey C.C. Lopez, and he set a quick pace of 22.28 and 45.24 over the "good" track while as many as 3 lengths in front of Fabulous Strike. True Quality continued to hold onto the lead into the lane, getting 5 furlongs in 57.23 but began to tire in the final furlong. Fabulous Strike unleashed his rally from the 3/16 pole, quickly closing the gap and running down the pacesetter at the 1/16 pole to win going away by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:09.74 over the good track. It was a long 3 1/2 lengths back to Good Card third, and another 1 1/4 lengths to Lucky Island last.
