Union Strike

Union Strike finished second behind American Cleopatra in her career debut but broke her maiden in her next start, defeating that rival plus five others in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante. The win was the first stakes win for her young trainer Shelbe Ruis, but Union Strike was subsequently transferred to Craig Dollase. Union Strike finished sixth in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and fifth in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes in her final two starts of 2016.

In 2017, owner Mick Ruis oversaw the training of Union Strike. She won her 3-year-old bow in the Santa Paula Stakes in April before finishing second by a head in the Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Kentucky Trailer on the Longines Kentucky Oaks undercard. Union Strike ran fifth in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes in June in her final race of 2017.

After finishing seventh in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes and third in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap, Ruis transferred Union Strike to Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. She finished fourth in the Grade 1 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes in her first start for Asmussen in August 2018 at Saratoga and followed with a fast-closing half-length win in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap on Sept. 23 to halt a four-race winless stretch.

The filly is from the first crop of 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags, out of the Smart Strike mare Classic Strike. She sold for $170,000 at auction as a weanling and brought $375,000 as a 2-year-old in training. Union Strike is a half-sister to 2012 Pennsylvania Derby winner Handsome Mike.