Strike a Deal
Encyclopedia
Strike A Deal was a Thoroughbred
racehorse
foaled in Kentucky
who was a millionaire turf
specialist that won or placed in twelve stakes races at eight tracks in six different states or provinces over his five year racing career. The son of Smart Strike
will best be remembered for winning the Grade II
one and one eighth miles (9 furlong
s) Dixie Stakes at Pimlico Race Course
on the Preakness Stakes
undercard.
September yearling sale for $350,000. After breaking his maiden in the summer of 2006 Strike A Deal raced in Pilgrim Stakes
in late September at Belmont Park
in New York and placed second at one mile and one eighth (9 furlongs) on the turf. Then his connections sent him south to Maryland and stepped up in class and ran in the Laurel Futurity
at Laurel Park Racecourse where he won and took the lion's share of the $150,000 purse at one and one sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs) on the turf.
at one mile and three sixteenths (9.5 furlongs) in mid-June and then turned around and placed again in the Virginia Derby
at one mile and a quarter (10 furlongs) in Mid-July both run at Colonial Downs
in New Kent County, Virginia
on the turf course. Strike a Deal then traveled to another state where ran third in the grade three Kent Breeders' Cup Stakes
at Delaware Park Racetrack in late September at one and one eighth miles on the turf.
in New Jersey at Monmouth Park Racetrack
at one and three eighths of a mile on the turf. In August Strike a Deal ran in the Nijinsky Stakes
and placed second in the mile and a quarter race on the turf at Woodbine Racetrack
. In late October 2008, Strike a Deal continued his streak of second place finishes with his fourth straight in the Knickerbocker Handicap
a grade two mile and an eighth turf race held at Belmont Park. Late in the year Strike A Deal rounded into form and came out on top by winning the graded Red Smith Handicap
in early November at Aqueduct Racetrack
in New York City at one and three eighths miles on the turf.
$200,000 Dixie Stakes featuring a field of 12 older horses going one and one eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the turf at Pimlico Race Course
. He started his six year-old campaign on May 15, 2010 off a long layoff and broke from gate eight at a modest price of 14-1. The two favorites sprang from the gate quickly, both Grassy (the 7-2 favorite) and second choice Just As Well at 5-1 took the lead early. Strike a Deal rushed to the front taking the lead going into the club house turn and set an easy pace with the first quarter mile in 23.9. On the far side of the track Barbaro's full brother Nicanor (9-1) challenged Strike a Deal from one end of the back stretch to the other clocking the half and three quarters in 48.2 and 1:12.7 saving ground around both turns. Entering the top of the lane, Strike a Deal accelerated away from the field to open a two length lead through a mile in 1:36.2. Just As Well put in a strong rally from seventh early but Strike a Deal held him off late to win the Dixie Stakes by 3/4 length in 1:47.8 over fast track. It was another 1/2 length back to Rahystrada in third.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
foaled in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
who was a millionaire turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
specialist that won or placed in twelve stakes races at eight tracks in six different states or provinces over his five year racing career. The son of Smart Strike
Smart Strike
Smart Strike is a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse. The son of the Champion sire, Mr. Prospector, and out of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare Classy 'n Smart, Smart Strike is a half-brother to 1991 Canadian Triple Crown champion Dance Smartly.Owned and bred by Sam-Son Farm, on the...
will best be remembered for winning the Grade II
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
one and one eighth miles (9 furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s) Dixie Stakes at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
on the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
undercard.
Early career
Strike a Deal was purchased in the KeenelandKeeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
September yearling sale for $350,000. After breaking his maiden in the summer of 2006 Strike A Deal raced in Pilgrim Stakes
Pilgrim Stakes
The Pilgrim Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1979 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade III event raced in late September, it is open to horses two-year-old horses and is contested at a distance of 1⅛ miles on turf. In 1983, it was run on dirt...
in late September at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in New York and placed second at one mile and one eighth (9 furlongs) on the turf. Then his connections sent him south to Maryland and stepped up in class and ran in the Laurel Futurity
Laurel Futurity
The Laurel Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Run over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on turf, at one time it was a Grade I stakes race on dirt, and one of the richest and most important races for two-year-old...
at Laurel Park Racecourse where he won and took the lion's share of the $150,000 purse at one and one sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs) on the turf.
Three year-old season
Won Straight Deal Stakes at Belmont Park at one mile on the turf. In the summer of 2007 he ran an impressive second in both the grade three Colonial Turf CupColonial Turf Cup
The Colonial Turf Cup is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 2005 at Colonial Downs race track in New Kent County, Virginia...
at one mile and three sixteenths (9.5 furlongs) in mid-June and then turned around and placed again in the Virginia Derby
Virginia Derby
The Virginia Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1998 at Colonial Downs race track in New Kent County, Virginia. A Grade II event, it is raced on turf at a distance of 10 Furlongs and is open to three-year-old horses....
at one mile and a quarter (10 furlongs) in Mid-July both run at Colonial Downs
Colonial Downs
Colonial Downs is a racetrack for Thoroughbred flat racing and Standardbred harness racing located in New Kent County, Virginia adjacent to Interstate 64, halfway between Richmond, Virginia and Williamsburg, Virginia.-History and information:...
in New Kent County, Virginia
New Kent County, Virginia
At the 2000 census, there were 13,462 people, 4,925 households and 3,895 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 per square mile . There were 5,203 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
on the turf course. Strike a Deal then traveled to another state where ran third in the grade three Kent Breeders' Cup Stakes
Kent Breeders' Cup Stakes
The Kent Stakes is an American Grade III race for Thoroughbred race horses, age three, run on the turf at Delaware Park Racetrack located in Stanton, Delaware. Set at a distance of one and one eighth mile , the race offered a purse of $250,000....
at Delaware Park Racetrack in late September at one and one eighth miles on the turf.
Four year-old season
Early in the year Strike a Deal struggled but in May he came back and placed second in the Volponi Stakes at Belmont Park a listed stakes race at one and one eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the turf. In July 2008 he ran a game second in the grade one United Nations HandicapUnited Nations Handicap
The United Nations Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in July at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. The race is open to horses, age three and up, going one and three-eighths miles on the turf. A Grade I event, it currently offers a purse of $750,000...
in New Jersey at Monmouth Park Racetrack
Monmouth Park Racetrack
Monmouth Park Racetrack is an American race track for thoroughbred horse racing in Oceanport, New Jersey. It is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and is operated under a five-year lease as a partnership with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.Monmouth Park's marquee event...
at one and three eighths of a mile on the turf. In August Strike a Deal ran in the Nijinsky Stakes
Nijinsky Stakes
The Nijinsky Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the last Sunday of August at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario....
and placed second in the mile and a quarter race on the turf at Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day...
. In late October 2008, Strike a Deal continued his streak of second place finishes with his fourth straight in the Knickerbocker Handicap
Knickerbocker Handicap
The Knickerbocker Handicap is an American Grade III race on turf for Thoroughbred horses run each year at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The Knickerbocker is open to three-year-olds and up, and set at a distance of one mile and one furlong...
a grade two mile and an eighth turf race held at Belmont Park. Late in the year Strike A Deal rounded into form and came out on top by winning the graded Red Smith Handicap
Red Smith Handicap
The Red Smith Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A race on turf open to horses age three and older, it is run in the first week of November over a distance of 1⅜ miles ....
in early November at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
in New York City at one and three eighths miles on the turf.
Six year-old season
After not racing as a five year-old, Strike a Deal was entered in the Grade IIGraded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
$200,000 Dixie Stakes featuring a field of 12 older horses going one and one eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the turf at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
. He started his six year-old campaign on May 15, 2010 off a long layoff and broke from gate eight at a modest price of 14-1. The two favorites sprang from the gate quickly, both Grassy (the 7-2 favorite) and second choice Just As Well at 5-1 took the lead early. Strike a Deal rushed to the front taking the lead going into the club house turn and set an easy pace with the first quarter mile in 23.9. On the far side of the track Barbaro's full brother Nicanor (9-1) challenged Strike a Deal from one end of the back stretch to the other clocking the half and three quarters in 48.2 and 1:12.7 saving ground around both turns. Entering the top of the lane, Strike a Deal accelerated away from the field to open a two length lead through a mile in 1:36.2. Just As Well put in a strong rally from seventh early but Strike a Deal held him off late to win the Dixie Stakes by 3/4 length in 1:47.8 over fast track. It was another 1/2 length back to Rahystrada in third.