Strong Hope Starting at $30,000 at Claiborne

Strong Hope, a multiple grade II winner, will begin his stallion career for a fee of $30,000, due when the foal stands and nurses. The 4-year-old son of Grand Slam will be available for viewing next week at the Hancock family's Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky.

Strong Hope, a $1.7 million Saratoga yearliing campaigned by Eugene and Laura Melnyk, won the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) and Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II, over Empire Maker) in consecutive starts last year and retired with six wins from 11 starts and earnings of $767,460.