For nearly 18 months, trainer Alan Goldberg has been waiting for things to jell for Strike a Deal. And on a gray and rainy Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, things finally came together for the 4-year-old son of Smart Strike in a big way.

Under jockey C.C. Lopez, Strike a Deal came roaring off the pace and onto an emphatic seven-length victory over favored Lauro in the Grade 2, $150,000 Red Smith Handicap, snapping a 10-race losing streak that included six seconds in the process.

“He pretty much finishes every race, he’s just had some bad racing luck,” said Goldberg by telephone. “With this group, he was able to overcome.”

Lopez settled Strike a Deal in midpack, well off the portable rail, as Presious Passion took the field of nine through fractions of 26.55, 52.87, 1:19.05 and 1:43.70 over the yielding turf. On the far turn, Lopez took Strike a Deal widest of all and the bay colt responded with a flourish when asked, sweeping to the lead in the final 220 yards and hitting the wire in 2:23.28 for the 11 furlongs.

“The course was soft – he handled it well,” said Lopez. “When I got around the turn, I ended up staying four wide. I tagged him once left handed, and he took off.”

The fourth choice at 4-1, Strike a Deal returned $10.60 for a $2 win bet and earned $90,000 for Jayeff B Stable, boosting his bankroll to $932,341 with his first graded stakes victory. The win was also his first since taking an overnight stakes at Belmont Park on May 23, 2007, and fourth overall from 16 starts.

Lauro, who challenged for the lead in the stretch, held on to finish three-quarters of a length ahead of Banrock, who in turn was followed by Always First, Hard Top, Presious Passion, and Wheels Up At Noon. Interpatation and Summer Patriot were scratched.