Smart Strike Colt Brings $900,0000

A chestnut son of Smart Strike lit up the sales ring late in the day of the fourth session of the Keeneland September yearling sale, bringing $900,000 from John Moynihan, agent, who made the purchase on behalf of Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Farm.

The colt, the second highest-priced horse of the session, was consigned by Dromoland Farm, agent.

Bred in Kentucky by Peter Blum Thoroughbreds, the $900,000 yearling is out of the winning Maria's Mon mare Mon Belle, a full sister to 2001 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner and sire Monarchos . The Smart Strike colt is a half brother to the stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Supreme.

"It's more than I wanted to pay, but it's a really good horse and we've had luck with the stallion," said Moynihan, referring to Stonestreet's success with two-time Horse of the Year and sire Curlin , who is also by Smart Strike.

"We've got an affinity for the horse and when people like Barbara have luck with a certain sire line, they tend to go back to the well a little bit. We just went really deep in this well. Barbara was spurring me on."

Earlier in the sale, Hip No. 1004, a gray or roan colt by Unbridled's Song fetched $800,000 from J.J. Crupi, agent, who made the purchase on behalf of the New York-based group St. Elias Stable.

"He was a standout; I loved him," said Crupi of the colt, who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. "He had everything in the right place...he looked like a racehorse, and he looked like if he did something good he could be a stallion."

Bred in Kentucky by Albaugh Family Stable, the colt is out of the Trippi mare Miss Macy Sue, winner of the 2007 Winning Colors (gr. III) and five other stakes during a career in which she earned $880,915.

Miss Macy Sue, also the dam of the unraced 2-year-old A.P. Indy filly Minnie Macy, produced a Medaglia d'Oro filly March 21.