Strike a Deal wins Dixie on Preakness undercard

BALTIMORE (AP) -Strike a Deal led all the way in his comeback race and won the $200,000 Dixie Stakes Saturday on the Preakness undercard.

The 6-year-old trained by Alan Goldberg had been sidelined since running seventh in the United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park last summer.

Ramon Dominguez hustled Strike a Deal to the front and dictated a moderate pace with Nicanor, Barbaro's brother, chasing in second. Strike a Deal cut the final corner smartly, opening up some daylight that helped him hold off the late-running Just as Well by three quarters of a length.

Trained by Alan Goldberg, Strike a Deal improved to 5 for 20. He paid $30.20 to win, running the 1 1-8 miles on the firm turf in 1:47.81.

Nicanor, making his stakes debut, faded to sixth