Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Strike Out

By Bret Hanover-Golden Miss-Ensign Hanover
p, 3, 1:56.3 ($454,064), Chestnut Horse foaled 1969, died 1988
Owned by Castleton Farm of Lexington & Beejay Stables of Ontario, Canada

Strike Out hailed from the second crop of sire Bret Hanover and though he only raced during his freshman and sophomore years, was named both Two-Year-Old Pacer of the Year and Three-Year-Old Pacer of the Year during those seasons.

Trained by his owner John Hayes, Sr., he earned $155,627 as a freshman and took a record of 1:58, pacing to victories in the Roosevelt Futurity, the Fox Stake, the Hanover, the Reynolds, the Golden Blend and the Florida Breeders Stake, among others. He took a 14-3-0 record at two from 19 starts and was well-known among fans for his burst of speed, his striking chestnut color and his gorgeous flaxen mane and tail.

At three Strike Out scored 15 victories, six seconds and one third from 25 starts, earning $298,437. He took his lifetime best mark of 1:56.3 en route to winning the Little Brown Jug, and also captured the Adios, the Battle of Saratoga, the Prix d'Ete, the Best of All Pace, the Reynolds, the Gaines, the Tattersalls, the Beaver Stakes, the Castor Stakes and the Florida Breeders Stake.

After his three-year-old season the decision was made to send Strike Out to stand stud alongside his sire Bret Hanover at Castleton Farm in Lexington. Unfortunately for Strike Out, his career as a sire fell short of his racetrack performances, as he was not a highly furtile horse and he did not receive the top mares until very late in his career.

He began breeding mares in 1974 and his final season was 1988. During those years he sired 443 performers, 171 of whom paced in 2:00 or faster, and 23 who were clocked in 1:55 or better, for total progeny earnings of $24+ million.

Strike Out has 68 $100,000 winners and in 2003 he had 18 winners who earned just over $40,000. His top performers include Hot Hitter, p, 3, 1:54f $963,574; Cue Light p, 3, 1:51.2 $827,505; Hilarion p, 3, 1:51.2 $775,114; Ring Of Light p,1:51.2 $623,160, Mr Rodeo Drive p, 4, 1:54 $394,788 and Legal Notice p, 3, 1:53.3h $494,786.

Strike Out himself had a number of successful brothers and sisters. His full brother was Breton, p, 5, 2:00.3 $57,743 and his half-siblings included Base Hit (by Race Time) p, 4, 1:59.4 $63,398 and Cavalcade (by Meadow Skipper) p, 3, 1:57.3 $28,649.

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