Kentucky Oaks & Derby Day present a specter of global bloodlines. Throughout the stakes fields entered across both cards, Smart Strike's influence will be a constant.

In the leadup to Honor Marie & Resilience representing him as broodmare sire in the 150th Kentucky Derby, Graham Motion's standout pair of Sparkle Blue & Mission of Joy have respective tests over the Churchill Downs turf.

Sparkle Blue, fresh off a winning 5yo debut in the Gr2 Hillsborough S., contests Friday's Gr3 Modesty S. The Hard Spun mare out of Silk n' Sapphire (Smart Strike) is 1/2 to Shared Account, who during her brief time in Sam-Son's broodmare band was represented by Breeders' Cup-winning daughter Sharing.

On Saturday's Derby undercard, Mission of Joy goes postward in the Gr2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile over a course on which she won last season's Gr3 Regret S. (photo). The 4yo Sam-Son-bred is out of well-related Smart Mission.

Churchill Downs photo.