6th-Saratoga, $80,000, Msw, 7-11, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.53, ft, neck.
STRONG STATE (f, 2, Tom's d'Etat–Kram {SW, $189,697}, by Colonel John), the even-money favorite, became the second winner for her freshman sire (by Smart Strike) with a neck victory at Saratoga Thursday. The bay filly was hustled out to the early lead and was pressed by Selectively Sweet (Vekoma) through a quarter in :22.58. She put that longshot away as the half went up in :46.31, but was soon joined by Will Not Be Swayed (War of Will). That game foe battled the favorite down the stretch, but came up just short.
Purchased for $18,000 at the 2023 Keeneland January sale, Strong State overcame a troubled trip to be a late-closing second in her 5 1/2-furlong debut in an auction-restricted race at Churchill Downs June 16.
Strong State is trained by Al Stall, who also trained her sire, 2019 GI Clark Stakes winner Tom's D'Etat.
WinStar, registering its second win as breeder on the opening-day card at Saratoga, purchased Kram, in foal to War Front, for $250,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. The mare has a yearling colt by Justify, but her 2024 foal by Bolt d'Oro died. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $62,400.
O-Highlander Training Center; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Albert M. Stall, Jr.
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