Eclipse Thoroughbred Farm announced Sept. 4 that grade 1 winner Smooth Like Strait will stand his third breeding season in California, alongside Nick Alexander's highly respected stallion, Grazen.
Smooth Like Straight, an 8-year-old son of Midnight Lute, stood his first two seasons at War Horse Place in Kentucky. He covered 12 mares in 2024, his first season at stud, at a fee of $3,500. According to War Horse, he covered 10 mares this year at an advertised fee of $4,500.
The move brings Smooth Like Strait back to the state where he enjoyed most of his racing success. Trained by Michael McCarthy and bred and campaigned by Cannon Thoroughbreds, Smooth Like Strait built his reputation primarily on the California circuit, capturing some of the state's most prestigious turf contests. His graded stakes victories include the 2021 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T), 2020 Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes (G2T), 2020 Twilight Derby (G2T), 2019 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T), and the 2020 La Jolla Handicap (G3T).
"Not many horses have run triple-digit Beyers as often as Smooth Like Strait did in California (18 in a total of 26 starts).That consistency set him apart," McCarthy said.
Smooth Like Strait retired sound after earning $1,813,863 with a record of 7-9-3 from 26 starts. Among his 10 graded stakes placings were runner-up finishes in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) and the 2022 Arlington Million Stakes (G1T).
Smooth Like Strait will stand the 2026 breeding season at Eclipse Thoroughbred Farm for an advertised fee of $3,500, LFG.
