Curlin, English Channel key big weekend for Smart Strike line

The late sire Smart Strike sired a pair of Preakness Stakes winners in Curlin (2007) and Lookin At Lucky (2010). The stallion’s influence was strongly present at Pimlico this Preakness Stakes weekend, with Curlin siring three graded stakes winners on Friday’s card and another champion son of Smart Strike, English Channel, represented by a pair of stakes winners Saturday.

Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin has been represented by a classic winner or classic-placed starter from each of his first six crops. Although he has not yet had a starter in this year’s Triple Crown series, the Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm resident made noise with his big day Friday. Curlin’s classic-placed son Tenfold, beaten less than a length when third to Triple Crown winner Justify in last year’s Preakness Stakes, won his return to Maryland in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special. Cordmaker, also by Curlin, finished third.

Later in the day, Curlin’s daughter Point of Honor won the co-featured Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan, and Mylady Curlin captured her stakes debut in the Grade 3 Allaire duPont Distaff.

Curlin’s other top runners this season include Lady Apple, who won the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes before finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks; Global Campaign, recent winner of the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Belmont; and additional graded stakes winners Campaign, Electric Forest, Gladiator King, and Vino Rosso.

English Channel, an Eclipse Award turf champion standing at Calumet Farm, is the sire of Mitchell Road, who won the Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes on Saturday, and English Bee, who earlier won the James W. Murphy Stakes.

With Kentucky Derby winner Country House not at Pimlico on Saturday, his older half-sister Mitchell Road was left to represent the family, leading throughout the Gallorette to capture her fourth straight race and first graded stakes. She previously won the Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Country House is by Coolmore stallion Lookin At Lucky, meaning he and Mitchell Road are both by champion sons of Smart Strike. Both are out of the War Chant mare Quake Lake. They were bred by the late J.V. Shields Jr. and race for his widow, Maury Shields, and Guinness McFadden. LNJ Foxwoods also partners in Country House. Both horses are trained by Bill Mott.