Queen's Plate pedigree profile: Clayton
Clayton
Bodemeister – Smarthalf, by Smart Strike
Bred in Ontario by Bernard and Karen McCormack ($16,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase by Zulu Racing; $50,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Donato Lanni)
As Daily Racing Form’s 2020 Queen’s Plate Watch debuts, Clayton sits atop the list. The colt sports classic connections on both sides of his pedigree.
Clayton is by Bodemeister, who won the 2012 Arkansas Derby before finishing second in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Bodemeister, a son of 2003 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, then became yet another classic sire from the Unbridled line, represented by 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming in his first crop.
Clayton is the first starter out of the unraced Smarthalf, whose dam is a half-sister to Eclipse Award champion juvenile filly Halfbridled. It is the extended family of Spruce Needles, a Grade 1 winner at 1 1/2 miles, and in more recent years of Mshawish, a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf.
Broodmare sire Smart Strike, a Grade 1-winning product of legendary Canadian operation Sam-Son Farm, went on to be a classic sire. More importantly in this regard, his daughters have produced classic performers on both sides of the border, including Mine That Bird, a Canadian champion juvenile before he upset the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Smart Strike’s daughters also have produced Canadian champion Inglorious, winner of the Queen’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks; champion and Queen’s Plate winner Eye of the Leopard; Tone Broke, winner of last year’s Prince of Wales and Breeders’ Stakes after finishing third in the Queen’s Plate; and additional Prince of Wales winners Dixie Strike and Cool Catomine.
– Nicole Russo