Broodmare of the Week is sponsored by Brewer Thoroughbreds, Demolition and Construction, LLC. You see my operation now not only breeds, pinhooks and races horses, but I also now specialize in demolition and destruction of backyard sheds. I took down the shed in my backyard last week to put in a turf course for cat races. Check that, my father-in-law took down the shed in the backyard last week. I was more like his sidekick, his Mini-Me if you will.
You see, I am a very handy person. I bought my first screwdriver at the age of 35. At the age of 37, I returned said screwdriver because I needed a Phelps screwdriver instead of a Flathead screwdriver. Named after Olympic Champion swimmer Michael Phelps, the Phelps screwdriver was created……Hold on, I am being told by my Editor that it is actually a Phillips screwdriver. Ok, so I am not handy, but most ladies would say I look good with a tool belt on. Some pictures of the demolition:
(I am Thor!)
(The "finished" product).
The most frightening part of taking down the shed was the joy in my wife's face as she was taking the sledgehammer to the side of the wall. It was the happiest she has been since the wedding. She is hard person to make angry, but I realized she is way too good with a sledgehammer. I should do the best to make her the happiest wife of all time.
If my death ever becomes a game of Clue, we know two of the three pieces: Mrs. Brewer with a Sledgehammer. Up to you decide where it took place, but another hint is that I don't have a Conservatory:
Broodmare of the Week goes to Striking Scholar based on her son Stryker Phd's demolition of the field in the Budweiser Handicap. He won the race after a 6-month plus layoff, so Larry and Sharon put a good foundation into him to get him prepared for this race. His May 18th workout of 5 Furlongs in :59 was a perfect primer for the race.
Leslie Mawing took Stryker off the pace and to the outside in order to insulate himself from having any dirt kicked in his face. He started to make his move around the turn and was easily passing horses. At the top of the stretch the field was putty in his Stryker's hand. Even though he duct in a little in the stretch he did not lien in on anyone and he still won by 3 lengths and bolted down a 97 Beyer (that one was a stretch). With that kind of performance off a layoff, the owners were beaming in the winner's circler after the race.
Unfortunately, Stryker is gelded so he cannot be a stud. Conformationally he has a nice frame and I shutter to think what kind of year this horse can have. (Enough construction puns?)
Let's talk a little about this fledgling broodmare Striking Scholar. By the fantastic sire Smart Strike and out of Degree (Vanlandingham), Striking Scholar was purchased for $14,000 by John Becker at the 2005 Keeneland yearling sale.
Smart Strike needs no introduction.
Striking Scholar's dam Degree was a $200,000 purchase at the 1989 Keeneland September Sale. Degree won over $50,000 in her career and was purchased by Halvorson Bloodstock as a broodmare in foal to Flatter for $7,000 at the 2005 Keeneland November sale. This purchase was likely prompted by Halvorson's purchase ion 2002 of Home School, a daughter of Degree, who was in foal to You and I. That ended up being an astute purchase as the You and I foal ended up being Schoolin' You Champion 2-year-old in Washington. Degree ended up being a good broodmare but a better "broodmare of broodmares" as her two best contributions to Washington racing were the unraced Home School and the unraced Striking Scholar.
Striking Scholar has produced three foals to date. Two starters to date and two stakes winners: the aforementioned Stryker Phd and also Madame Pele.
Stryker Phd is a 2009 foal by Bertrando. Purchase for $45,000 at the 2010 WTBOA Sale, Stryker Phd has won over $155,000 and is our best chance to bring the Longacres Mile trophy back home to a Washington-Bred. Some pictures of Stryker Phd taken from the awesome Terra Lee (please someone tell her to start her own photography business).
Here is a picture of Stryker C.A.T.
Madame Pele was Striking Scholar's 2010 foal. Purchased by Kamaaina Thoroughbreds for $14,000 at the 2011 WTBOA sale, Madame Pele has won over $120,000 to date. By Salt Lake, Madame Pele won last year's Comcast Sports Network Handicap on Washington Cup day. She recently finished second and fourth in two very tough older filly and mare stakes races to the Northwest Farms horses. She is the best older Washington-Bred filly or mare that I can think of right now.
Striking Scholar did not have a foal in 2011 or 2013. Her 2012 foal was Rachae Leigh. By Stormin Fever, this filly was purchased by Mona Hour (the same owner as Stryker Phd) for $32,000 at the 2013 WTBOA sale. Rachae Leigh has yet to workout, but I am looking forward to seeing her run, as I am sure we all are.
Char Clark entered Striking Scholar in the 2013 mixed portion of the sale in foal to Stormin' Fever. The Hansens purchased Striking Scholar for $36,000, a fair price considering her son had just finished second in the Longacres Mile two days before. Unfortunately, the Stormin Fever foal she had this year died. I wish the Hansen's better luck with this good mare in the future. It is still a great purchase for their broodmare band.
Always Love Your Animals,
Will
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