The Vanguard of Canadian Thoroughbred Racing

Smart Strike, a distinguished Thoroughbred stallion, stands out in Canadian thoroughbred racing due to his exceptional maternal lineage. His grandmother, No Class, earned recognition as the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Broodmare recipient in 1975, an honour established by the Canadian Jockey Club. The stallion’s dam, Classy 'n Smart, was recognised as the Canadian Broodmare of the Year in 1991, leading to the establishment of the Classy 'N Smart Stakes at Woodbine Racecourse in her honour in 1997. Both No Class and Classy 'n Smart have rightfully earned their places in the Canadian Hall of Fame.

These pivotal mares are highly esteemed in the thoroughbred breeding arena, often referred to as the Reines-de-Course—the most impactful horses that shape the future of the racing industry through their champion progeny. Their lineage boasts an undeniable winning legacy. Smart Strike inherited exceptional paternal qualities from his illustrious lineage, earning the title of leading sire in North America in 2007 and 2008.

The Origin Story

The journey commenced in 1975 when Ernest L. Samuel, the founder of Sam-Son Farm, purchased a young filly named No Class for $25,000 at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s annual yearling sale. Little did anyone realise at the time that her descendants would go on to earn over $6 million in total prize money.

No Class: The Matriarch (1974-1993)

No Class competed in notable races, including the Yearling Sales Stakes and the Princess Elizabeth, where she placed well. However, her true legacy lies in her breeding accomplishments. Out of her eight foals, seven raced, achieving remarkable success. Four became Canadian Champions, earning Sovereign Awards, and two were honoured in the Canadian Hall of Fame. Regal Classic was a multiple Graded Stakes winner and also sired several champions, while Sky Classic, a son of Nijinsky, claimed the title of Canadian Champion in 1989, 1991, and 1992, producing 50 Graded Stakes winners. The success of her other offspring, including Grey Classic, Classic Reign, Always A Classic, and Classic Cannonade, further solidified her status.

Classy 'n Smart: The Legacy Producer (1981-1999)

Classy 'n Smart, a distinguished daughter of No Class, was a Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old Mare, producing nine foals, five of whom became Graded Stakes winners. She was honoured as Canadian Broodmare of the Year in 1991. Among her notable progeny is Strike Smartly, who sired 13 champions in South Africa. However, her most celebrated offspring are Dance Smartly (1988-2007) and Smart Strike (1992-2015). 

Dance Smartly, the daughter of Northern Dancer, clinched the Canadian Triple Crown in 1991 and made history as the first Canadian horse to win the Breeders' Cup. Upon her retirement, she was the world’s highest-earning mare at the time, with a remarkable $3.2 million in earnings. Her descendants, Scatter the Gold and Dancethruthedawn, also achieved significant success on the track, both winning the prestigious Queen's Plate. Yet, the pinnacle of success for the No Class and Classy 'n Smart lineage is undoubtedly the bay stallion Smart Strike.

Racing Career of Smart Strike

In 1995, Smart Strike competed in four races, achieving victory in three of them.

He kicked off his second racing season with a win at the Claiming Horse Races held at Woodbine Racecourse. While Claiming Races typically involve the option to sell running horses, Smart Strike's owners chose to retain him. Following this, he raced twice more at Monmouth Park Racecourse, claiming victories in the Salvator Mile Handicap (G3) in July and the Philip H. Iselin Handicap (G1) in August 1996. Although he finished fourth in the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in September, an injury—a fracture of the condyle in his right foreleg—halted his career. Despite its brevity, Smart Strike's achievements in handicaps left a significant mark in the racing world. This led his owners to make a strategic decision to retire him to stud, allowing him to leverage his established reputation and the breeding potential from his female lineage, an opportunity Smart Strike would ultimately maximise.

Breeding Career of Smart Strike

Initially, Smart Strike did not gain recognition as a strong producer in his early breeding years, primarily because he lacked winners in Graded Stakes races and his offspring tended to excel late, at ages four to five. However, by 2003, when his first crop turned five years old, he broke into the ranks of the top ten North American producers by earnings. His trajectory continued to rise, with him ranking seventh in 2004, eighth in 2005, and eleventh in 2006. Remarkably, he soared to first place in 2007 and 2008, before securing third in 2009 and fifth in 2010. His remarkable achievements persisted until his passing, resulting in 112 Graded Stakes winners, 12 Champions, four Breeders' Cup victors, and two Classic winners. His progeny collectively amassed more than $118 million in earnings.

Notable Offspring of Smart Strike

Smart Strike’s offspring includes notable Graded Stakes winners such as:

- Soaring Free: Bred by Sam-Son Farm, this 2003 Canadian Sprint Champion was named Canada's Horse of the Year in 2004 after a series of impressive wins, including the Nearctic Stakes and Highlander Stakes.

- Eye of the Sphynx: A three-year-old filly who secured victories in the Woodbine Oaks, Selene Stakes, and Fury Stakes, earning a Sovereign Award nomination for champion three-year-old fillies. Her foal, Eye of the Leopard, won the Queen's Plate in 2009.

- English Channel: A distinguished son of Smart Strike, he won 13 of his 23 races, including the 2007 Breeders' Cup Turf.

- Gold Strike: The 2005 Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, she won the Selene Stakes and Woodbine Oaks, and Rich Strike, the 2022 Kentucky Derby winner, is her son.

- Strike a Deal: Achieved placings in 12 races across eight American tracks.

Significant victories were also achieved by other Smart Strike progeny, including:

- Curlin: Champion of both the Preakness Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2007, as well as the Dubai World Cup in 2008. He earned the title of American Horse of the Year in both 2007 and 2008.

- Square Eddie: Victorious in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 2008.

- Papa Clem: Winner of the Arkansas Derby in 2009 and the San Fernando Stakes in 2010.

- Lookin At Lucky: The American Champion Two-Year-Old of 2009 and the Champion Three-Year-Old of 2010, with career earnings of $3,307,278.

- My Miss Aurelia: The American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 2011, with a series of significant wins, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Additionally, Smart Strike's formidable legacy is upheld by other prominent winners such as Fabulous Strike, Battle of Midway, Farthest Land, and Added Edge, among many others.

Smart Strike's Offspring and Sires 

Smart Strike's progeny include Curlin, who has emerged as one of the world's premier sires, commanding a stud fee of $175,000 in 2020. Following successful seasons in 2022 and 2024, Curlin, now 20 years old, is expected to rise to an impressive $225,000 for his services.

With 25 Grade 1-winning offspring, Curlin's legacy is further solidified by his sons Palace Malice and Exaggerator, both recognised as sought-after sires, as well as his daughter Stellar Wind, who has established herself as an elite mare. Although Curlin's offspring tend to mature slowly, akin to their sire, they clearly exhibit exceptional classic stamina.

English Channel garnered the title of leading North American sire in 2020, with his first crop of foals in 2009 producing 14 Graded Stakes winners. Like his progeny, English Channel's offspring also showcase a tendency for late maturation, achieving peak performance later in their careers. Notably, The Pizza Man claimed Grade 1 victories at ages 6 and 7. In total, English Channel sired 11 Grade 1 winners.

Smart Strike’s son, Lookin At Lucky, produced his first foal, Four Leaf Chief, in 2012. Four Leaf Chief went on to win the 2014 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Stakes G1. Lookin At Lucky's notable North American descendants include the 2018 Horse of the Year, Accelerate, and the 2019 Kentucky Derby winner, Country House, along with Madefromlucky, among others. Lookin At Lucky has also found success as a sire in Chile, with over a dozen offspring winning Graded Stakes races.

Square Eddie, another son of Smart Strike, was recognised as a prominent California sire, ranking third in offspring earnings in 2018 and fourth in 2019. His most accomplished runner is Eddie Haskell. However, Square Eddie has recently been retired from breeding due to infertility issues.

Unfortunately, Smart Strike was euthanised in 2015 due to complications related to laminitis. Despite his passing, his remarkable legacy as a sire will continue to influence the breed for many years to come.