Strike a Deal

Strike A Deal (foaled in January 2004) 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 is probably best remembered for winning the Grade II one and one eighth miles (9 furlongs) Dixie Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on the Preakness Stakes undercard.

Early career

Strike a Deal was purchased in the Keeneland September yearling sale ^[1] for $350,000. After breaking his maiden in the summer of 2006, he raced in the 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 for 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.

Three-year-old season

Strike a Deal won Straight Deal Stakes at Belmont Park at one mile on the turf. In the summer of 2007, he ran second in both the grade three Colonial Turf Cup at one mile and three sixteenths (9.5 furlongs) in mid-June and 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.

Four-year-old season

Early in the year, Strike a Deal struggled. In May, he 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 second in the grade one United Nations Handicap 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, he 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, he won the graded Red Smith Handicap in early November at Aqueduct Racetrack 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 II $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. 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.^[2]

References

• Strike a Deal's pedigree and partial racing stats