Strike A Deal (foaled in January 2004) was a

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic ...

foaled in

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virgini ...

who was a millionaire

turf Sod, also known as turf, is the upper layer of soil with the grass growing on it that is often harvested into rolls. In Australian and British English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', and the word "sod" is limited mainly to agricultu ...

specialist that won or placed in twelve stakes races at eight tracks in six different states or provinces over his five-year racing career. The son of

Smart Strike Smart Strike (foaled May 21, 1992 in Ontario – died March 25, 2015) was a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse. The son of the Champion sire, Mr. Prospector, and out of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare Classy 'n Smart, Smart Strike is a ...

is probably best remembered for winning the

Grade II In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Ire ...

1 1/8 miles

Dixie Stakes The Dinner Party Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the eighth-oldest graded stakes race in the United States and the oldest stakes race in Maryland and all ...

Pimlico Race Course Pimlico Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of O ...

on the

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held on Armed Forces Day which is also the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs ...

undercard.

Early career

Strike a Deal was purchased in the

Keeneland Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for i ...

September yearling sale for $350,000. After breaking his maiden in the summer of 2006, he raced in the

Pilgrim Stakes The Pilgrim Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of miles on the turf track scheduled annually in late September at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $200,00 ...

in late September at

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse racing facility in the northeastern United States, located in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City limits. It was opened on May 4, 1905. It is operated by the non-profit New York Raci ...

in New York and placed second at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Then his connections sent him south to Maryland for the

Laurel Futurity The Laurel Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late September at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Run over a distance of miles on turf, at one time it was a Grade I stakes race on dirt, and one of the r ...

Laurel Park Racecourse Laurel Park, formerly Laurel Race Course, is an American thoroughbred racetrack located just outside Laurel, Maryland which opened in 1911. The track is miles in circumference. Its name was changed to "Laurel Race Course" for several decades un ...

, where he won the $150,000 race at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Three-year-old season

Strike a Deal won the Straight Deal Stakes at Belmont Park at one mile on the turf. In the summer of 2007, he ran second in both the grade three

Colonial Turf Cup The Commonwealth Turf Cup is an American Thoroughbred horse race held each year since 2015 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. It was previously known as the Colonial Turf Cup when it was held at Colonial Downs race track in New Kent County, Virg ...

at 1 3/16 miles in mid-June and the

Virginia Derby The Virginia Derby is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf held annually in September at Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia. The event currently carries ...

at miles in mid-July, both run at

Colonial Downs Colonial Downs is a racetrack located in New Kent County, Virginia adjacent to Interstate 64, halfway between Richmond and Williamsburg. The track conducted Thoroughbred flat racing and Standardbred harness racing between 1997 and 2014, and reop ...

New Kent County, Virginia New Kent County is a county (United States), county in the eastern part the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States Census, its population was 22,945. Its county seat is New Kent, Virginia, New Kent. Ne ...

, on the turf course. Strike a Deal then ran third in the grade three

Kent Breeders' Cup Stakes The Kent Stakes is a Listed American race for Thoroughbred race horses, age three, run on the turf at Delaware Park Racetrack located in Stanton, Delaware. Set at a distance of one and one eighth mile (9 furlong A furlong is a measure of ...

Delaware Park Racetrack Delaware Park (also known as ''DelPark'') is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track, casino, and golf course in Stanton, Delaware. It is located just outside the city of Wilmington, and about 30 miles from Philadelphia. Thoroughbred racing ...

in late September at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Four-year-old season

In May, he placed second in the Volponi Stakes at Belmont Park, a listed stakes race at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. In July 2008, he ran second in the grade one

United Nations Handicap The United Nations Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older run over a distance of one and three-eighth miles on the turf held annually in July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The e ...

in New Jersey at

Monmouth Park Racetrack Monmouth Park Racetrack is an American race track for thoroughbred horse racing in Oceanport, New Jersey, United States. It is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and is operated under a five-year lease as a partnership with ...

at 1 3/8 miles on the turf. In August, Strike a Deal ran in the Nijinsky Stakes and placed second in the miles race on the turf at

Woodbine Racetrack Woodbine Racetrack is a race track for Thoroughbred horse racing in the Etobicoke area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group, Woodbine Racetrack manages and hosts Canada's most famous race, the King's Plate. The track ...

. In late October 2008, he continued his streak of second-place finishes with his fourth straight in the

Knickerbocker Handicap The Knickerbocker Stakes is an American Grade III race on turf for Thoroughbred horses run each year at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The Knickerbocker is open to three-year-olds and up, and set at a distance of miles (nine furlongs). Run ...

, a grade two 1 1/8 miles turf race held at Belmont Park. Late in the year, he won the graded

Red Smith Handicap The Red Smith Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A race on turf open to horses age three and older, it is typically run in November over a distance of miles (11 furlongs). Inaugu ...

in early November at

Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park and Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack located within New York City limits. Its racing ...

in New York City at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.

Six-year-old season

After not racing as a five-year-old, Strike a Deal was entered in the

$200,000

featuring a field of 12 older horses going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at

. He started his six-year-old campaign on May 15, 2010, off a long layoff and broke from gate eight at odds of 14–1. Although the favorites, Grassy and Just As Well, broke quickly, Strike a Deal rushed to the front and took the lead going into the clubhouse turn. Entering the top of the lane, he accelerated away from the field and held off a rallying Just As Well to win by 3/4 length in 1:47.8. It was another 1/2 length back to Rahystrada in third.
YouTube taping of the Dixie Stakes.

References

{{reflist
Strike a Deal's pedigree and partial racing stats
2004 racehorse births Thoroughbred family 8-g Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States