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| Staff Writer |
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Smart Strike, a prominent influence in the bloodlines of top 3YO racehorses, will further solidify his heritage at the upcoming Gr.1 Belmont Stakes on June 8th as the maternal grandfather of three contenders.
The late Mr. Prospector's son, a Grade One champion, will have a presence in this year's prestigious New York classic at Saratoga Race Course, with Gr.1 Preakness Stakes victor Seize the Grey, Gr.2 Wood Memorial Stakes champion Resilience, and Gr.2 Louisiana Derby second-place finisher Honor Marie all carrying his bloodlines.
Seize the Grey, a son of Arrogate, is sired by the stakes-placed winner Smart Shopping, a daughter of Smart Strike. She was bred by JAMM, the breeding and racing entity founded by the late Audrey "Tolie" Otto and currently managed by her daughter Audie.
Resilience, a foal of five-time leading sire Into Mischief, was bred by Pam and Marty Wygod out of their homebred winner Meadowsweet. The Smart Strike mare is the last foal and only filly produced by the Wygods' multiple grade 1 winner and millionaire Tranquility Lake.
Resilience is now co-owned by the Wygods' daughter Emily Bushnell and longtime friend and bloodstock adviser Ric Waldman.
Honor Marie, by Honor Code , was bred in Kentucky by Royce Pulliam out of the grade 2-placed winner Dame Marie
Smart Strike, who spent his entire stud career at Lane's End, has really made a significant mark as a sire. His offspring have shown great adaptability, with 136 black-type winners almost evenly split between dirt and turf. It's worth noting that his female offspring have outperformed his male runners.
During the Belmont Stakes Festival weekend, Smart Strike will be well-represented as a broodmare sire. Beyond the three Belmont entries, there will be eight other starters carrying Smart Strike's bloodline. Some of the notable entries include Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy) in the Gr.1Just a Game Stakes , Sparkle Blue (Hard Spun) in the Gr.1 New York Stakes , and Gun Pilot (Gun Runner) in the Gr.2 True North Stakes . This strong representation during a major racing weekend, coupled with the promising purses in the upcoming summer and fall events, may position Smart Strike for a leading broodmare sire title this year.