Strong Contender Will Stand At Kentucky Farm

Monday, February 26th 2007, 6:50 am

By: News On 6

VERSAILLES, Ky. (AP) _ Strong Contender, who won two graded-stakes races last year for Tulsa, Oklahoma, oilman John Oxley, will stand as a stallion at Stonewall Farm in central Kentucky.

Oxley purchased Strong Contender for $800,000 at the 2005 Keeneland April 2-Year-Olds In Training sale.

Strong Contender won four of eight races during his career, including the Grade Two Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park and the Grade Two Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

He also finished third last year in two Grade One races, the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

The son of Maria's Mon, out of the broodmare Kopenhagen, earned $618,000 before being retired after suffering a tendon injury in his final race, the Grade Three Hal's Hope Handicap at Gulfstream Park on January 6th.

Strong Contender's stud fee will be $10,000.