Strong Hope’s first winners race internationally
Delicada won a five-furlong maiden race on May 30 at Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico and Art Preview won a five-furlong maiden race at Lingfield on Monday in England to become the first two winners for multiple Grade 2 winner Strong Hope.
An eight-year-old by Grand Slam out of the Deputy Minister mare Shining Through, Strong Hope stands for $30,000 at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.
A half brother to English Group 1 winner Bahamian Pirate, Strong Hope has 90 two-year-olds in his first crop.
As a three-year-old, Strong Hope won the 2003 Dwyer (G2) and Jim Dandy (G2) Stakes and finished third in the Travers Stakes (G1) for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Eugene and Laura Melnyk. Strong Hope finished second in the 2004 Carter Handicap (G1) and third in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), concluding his career with six wins in 11 starts and purse earnings of $767,460.