Stonewall Stallions has announced that Strong Contender, a multiple graded stakes winner of $618,000, will enter stud in 2007 at Stonewall near Versailles, Ky. Stonewall, owned by Audrey Haisfield, announced a fee of $10,000 for the 4-year-old son of Maria's Mon.
A Kentucky-bred produced from the Dynaformermare Kopenhagen, Strong Contender was an $800,000 Keeneland April 2-year-old purchase by owner John Oxley.
Strong Contender won the Super Derby (gr. II) over Lawyer Ron, and was a 7 3/4-length winner of the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) in 2006. He placed in that year's Haskell Invitational Handicap and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, both grade I, and the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II).
“Strong Contender certainly lived up to his name,” said Stonewall’s director of stallion operations, Ken Wilkins. “There was a buzz about this horse from the time he broke his maiden in his 2-year-old debut, and both his sire and broodmare sire were among the top five on America’s list of leading sires last year.”
Strong Contender, who won or placed in seven of eight races, was retired earlier this year because of a tendon tear.
