Papa Clem
Graded Earnings: $760,000
Race Record: 6-2-2-0
Trainer - Gary Stute
Jockey - Rafael Bejarano
Owner - Bo Hirsch
Breeder - Bo Hirsch
Pedigree
Papa Clem is by Smart Strike, the leading sire for the past two years, whose offspring have shown an immense amount of versatility. A half-brother to Canadian Triple Crown winner and Hall of Fame filly Dance Smartly (Danzig), Smart Strike won six of his eight career starts, earning his signature victory in the nine-furlong Philip H. Iselin H. (G1) in 1996. Smart Strike has become one of the most successful sires in recent years, stamping his legacy through his son Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year who became North America’s all-time leading money winner with a second consecutive score in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) last fall. His other major victories occurred in the Preakness S. (G1), Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Stephen Foster H. (G1), Woodward S. (G1) and Arkansas Derby (G2), all contested at nine or 10 furlongs. Curlin also did well to finish third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in only his fourth career start, and was beaten a head into second in the Belmont S. (G1). In addition to numerous Canadian champions, Smart Strike has also been represented in the United States by English Channel, the 2007 male turf champion, as well as the Grade 1-winning sprinter Fabulous Strike, among others. With Smart Strike on top, Papa Clem’s capabilities are virtually limitless.
Papa Clem was produced by Miss Houdini (Belong to Me), who captured the seven-furlong Del Mar Debutante (G1) in her second career start in 2002. Off nearly a year after that score, she would lose her final two races after which she was retired. Papa Clem’s second dam was Magical Maiden (Lord Avie), who captured the 1991 Hollywood Starlet (G1) and the Las Virgenes S. (G1) the following year. This family produced Avies Copy (Lord Avie), the Grade 2 winner who ran third behind Alysheba and Bet Twice in the 1987 Kentucky Derby.
Broodmare sire Belong to Me was a sprint specialist himself, capturing the Best Turn S. (G3) and Boojum H. (G3), but has gotten offspring capable at a variety of distances and surfaces. Last season, he was represented by Forever Together, a Grade 2 winner on dirt who was transformed into an Eclipse Award champion when moved to the grass. As a damsire, Belong to Me’s most prominent runner has been Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch), winner of the Hopeful S. (G1) at two who later captured the Louisiana Derby (G2) prior to a sixth-place finish in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Circular Quay stretched out at four to take the nine-furlong New Orleans H. (G2).
