Mom's On Strike Returns a Winner in Mint Julep Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Mom's On Strike (middle) wins the Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs
Carl Moore and Brad Grady's 6-year-old mare Mom's On Strike grabbed the lead with a sixteenth of a mile to run and held off late runs from Smart Shot and Limari to win the 43rd running of the $125,000 Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes (G3T) by a neck June 8 at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Adam Beschizza and trained by Joe Sharp, Mom's On Strike clocked 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:47.63.
Coco Channel set the early pace and led the field of eight fillies and mares through dawdling quarter-mile fractions of :24.79, :50.94, and 1:16.59. Vagabond Princess chased from her outside in second as Mom's On Strike was tucked down on the inside in fourth. At the top of the stretch, Vagabond Princess confronted Coco Channel and took over as Mom's On Strike swung out to commence her late run. Mom's On Strike grabbed the lead at the sixteenth pole and turned back challenges from Smart Shot, who sliced her way into the mix between horses, and Limari, who rallied from last.
"It's never really ideal to have an inside post with a deep closer," Beschizza said. "She was a bit more energetic today and a bit fresh off the layoff. Being so fresh it allowed her to get into the race earlier, which helped her chances."
Mom's On Strike returned $7, $4.40, and $2.80 as the 5-2 favorite. Smart Shot, under Edgar Morales, paid $13.40 and $5.20. Limari, with Florent Geroux in the irons, finished another half-length back in third and paid $2.20.
Vagabond Princess, Coco Channel, Promise of Spring, Phantom Opening, and She's Pretty Lucky completed the order of finish.
Mom's On Strike, who made her first start in 217 days since finishing eighth in the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs last November, banked the $75,175 first prize for her fourth career stakes victory. Previously, she won a trio of 2018 stakes: the Marie G. Krantz Memorial and Albert M. Stall Memorial at Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots and the $150,000 Bewitch Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.
"All the credit goes to owners Carl Moore and Brad Grady," Sharp said. "They allowed us to be patient with this mare and give her the time off that she needed. After the layoff she came back as a stronger mare and is going to set her up for a really fun campaign."
The Old Forester Mint Julep victory jumped her earnings to $594,550 from a record of 7-6-1 from 20 starts.
Mom's On Strike is a daughter of First Dude out of the War Chant mare Mom's Deputy and was bred in Florida by Courtney and Chad Meagher.