Strawfly Special had something to prove.
Bred by Dan and Jolene Urschel of Texas, the bay stallion by Special Effort was one of four winners from six starters out of the winning Grade 1-placed Fly In The Pie. Strawfly Special was purchased as a yearling at the Ruidoso sale by Jack Hall, who raced him in the name of Hall’s Liston Aluminum Brick Co.
With 25 starts against the best horses running over three seasons, Strawfly Special earned $222,920 while compiling 11 wins, including one in a major stakes race; four seconds, with two in stakes; and three thirds, each in a stakes.
Returned to Los Alamitos, he won in allowance company in September 1991, ran in Apprehend’s Los Alamitos Invitational Championship (G1) in October and followed that with a close third to Apprehend and See Me Gone in the Quarter Horse Breeders Classic Championship Classic (G1).
Strawfly Special finally went into well-earned retirement after running in Refrigerator’s division of the Champion Prep Stakes.
Strawfly Special then was acquired by Jens List Jr. of California, who moved him to his Double Bar S Ranch at Moreno Valley, California. List died in November 1996, leaving the ranch in the hands of his widow, Sharon, and daughters Dawn and Rhonda. At Double Bar S, Strawfly Special proved his point as a sire, where he ranks in the top 10 by both earnings and winners on the track.
The sire of 1,448 named foals in 16 crops, the stallion is represented by 883 winners from 1,193 starters, including two-time world champion Tailor Fit, All American Futurity (G1) winner Streakin Flyer and Grade 1 winner and successful sire Strawflyin Buds, 76 other stakes winners and the earners of more than $25.8 million.
Strawfly Special is also in the top 10 as a broodmare sire, where he is represented by racehorses such as world champions Last To Fire and One Fabulous Eagle. Strawfly Special foals also did well in the show ring, where the stallion is represented by AQHA Supreme Champion Gotta Good Habit and other all-around performers.
Strawfly Special was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2017.
Biography updated as of March 2017.