Keeneland January sale: Stonestreet goes to $800K for Salty Strike

Barbara D. Livingston

Grade 3 winner Salty Strike sold for $800,000 to Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Farm at the Keeneland January sale

Multiple Grade 3 winner Salty Strike sold for $800,000 to bloodstock agent John Moynihan, on behalf of Stonestreet Farm, during Tuesday's second session of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

The 5-year-old Smart Strike mare was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect by Lane's End, agent. Moynihan said the mare will join the broodmare band at Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Farm, with a decision forthcoming on her mate for 2013.

"[Smart Strike has] turned out to be a great broodmare sire, and this mare could really run, so we're excited to get her," Moynihan said. "You don't see many of them that look like that. She has great, beautiful balance, and stayed around the racetrack for a long time."

In her final outing, Salty Strike won the Dream Supreme Stakes on Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs, her second consecutive win in that race and her seventh career stakes win. Five of those stakes wins came in 2012, including the Grade 3 Gardenia Stakes. She also demonstrated her affinity for the Churchill strip with a victory in the Grade 3 Dogwood Stakes in 2011. Overall, she won nine of 20 career starts for earnings of $485,266.

Out of the winning Salt Lake mare Lake Huron, Salty Strike is a half-sister to stakes winner Salty Response and stakes-placed winner Northern Vacation.