Grade 1 winner Strategic Maneuver dies at age 23

Multiple Grade 1 winner and popular broodmare Strategic Maneuver was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age on Sept. 24 at Betty Moran’s Brushwood Farm in Malvern, Pa., at age 23. Her death was reported by The Blood-Horse.

A daughter of Cryptoclearance, Strategic Maneuver was bred in Kentucky by Victoria and Michael Ashford, and was sold for $19,000 at the 1992 Keeneland September yearling sale. She won 5 of 6 starts as a 2-year-old for owner Philip Teinowitz and trainer Flint Schulhofer, highlighted by the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes and Matron Stakes, as well as the Grade 2 Schuylerville Stakes and Demoiselle Stakes.

Strategic Maneuver was retired following her 3-year-old campaign with 5 wins in 10 career starts for earnings of $414,340. She was sold the following year in foal to Danzig to Eaton Sales for $800,000 at the 1995 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

As a broodmare, Strategic Maneuver produced five winners from nine foals to race, including Grade 2 winner Cat Fighter and Irish Group 3 winner and sire Ishiguru. Another of her foals, the unraced Storm Cat mare While Cat, is the dam of Group 3 winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint runner-up Shumoos.

Strategic Maneuver was also a prominent producer at auction, highlighted by Cat Fighter, who brought $2.3 million as a 4-year-old at the 2004 Keeneland November sale, just months after commanding $1.35 million as part of the Thoroughbred Corp. dispersal at the Barretts March sale. In total, foals by Strategic Maneuver sold for seven figures five times at varying stages of their lives.