Strike Charmer Rallies to Victory in Beaugay

A three-month layoff earlier this year may have helped Strike Charmer, as she registered her first stakes win since 2014 in the $150,000 Beaugay Stakes (gr. IIIT) May 14 at Belmont Park. 

The Courtlandt Farms homebred completed an impressive rally from 8 1/2 lengths back in the Beaugay when, racing near the center of the course under Irad Ortiz Jr., she surged past Tapitry in midstretch and drew off to a 2 1/4-length win in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

"She broke sharp and I was happy with the pace," said winning trainer Mark Hennig. "She really kicked well and I thought she put in a strong finish."

"She broke so good, I thought I was going a little fast. I tried to wait as long as I could and I thought the pace in front of me was going quick," Ortiz added. "When I asked her, she was there for me. Mark has done a great job with her, she was ready. She's nice. I rode her last time [in the fall] and I won on her and she won again with me today, so I guess she likes me, and I like her too."

Strike Charmer earned the second stakes win of her career; the first since the daughter of Smart Strike won the 2014 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Churchill Downs turf. 

Strike Charmer opened the season Jan. 9 with an off-the-board finish in the Marshua's River Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the Gulfstream Park turf, after which she was given time off by Hennig. The 6-year-old mare returned April 16 on the Aqueduct Racetrack turf with a runner-up finish to Mrs McDougal in the Plenty of Grace Stakes.

"She looks like a filly that's coming the right way. She's showing it too," Hennig said. "She's never had a good hair coat her whole life, but now she does. We made some changes shoeing-wise. She's a happy horse right now."

In Saturday's race, My Miss Sophia, the 9-5 favorite in her first start since placing third in the Oct. 3 First Lady Stakes (gr. IT) at Keeneland, seized the lead early under Joel Rosario, holding a clear advantage through a half-mile in :46.31. After she completed six furlongs in 1:09.83, Tapitry powered past her in early stretch but held that advantage only briefly, as Strike Charmer laughed last.

Strike Charmer completed the 1 1/16-mile test in 1:39.22. Tapitry held second, while Recepta, who had to check hard early then clipped heels with Ball Dancing, rallied for third. 

Strike Charmer returned $20, $8, and $4 across the board, while Tapitry paid $7.50 and $4.20 to place and show. Recepta returned $2.60 to show.

Strike Charmer is out of stakes winner Cat Charmer, by Storm Cat, who also has produced stakes-placed Sweet Dreams.