Mom’s On Strike Streaks In G3 Bewitch

LEXINGTON, KY – Brady Grady and Carl R. Moore Management’s Mom’s On Strike made her move in the far turn before streaking down the front stretch to score her first graded stakes win in Friday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland.

Breaking at her own pace from post 2 under Adam Beschizza, Mom’s On Strike was content to settle at the rear early while Sully’s Dream led the field through the first mile in fractions of :24.95, :49.96, 1:14.34, and 1:39.18. Angled out heading into the far turn, Mom’s On Strike began picking off her opponents and hit the top of the stretch in third. Commencing a rally down the lane, the Joe Sharp trainee drove past Ickymasho and the favored Daddys Lil Darling before drawing away in the final stages to win by 3 1/4 lengths in a final time of 2:30.02 for the 1 1/2-mile turf marathon.

“It was an (uneventful) trip for me,” Beschizza said. “She’s a mare that switches (leads) very nicely. This trip is ideal for her because she can get into a nice rhythm. The long stretch here just allows her to lengthen away and get there in her own time.”

Daddys Lil Darling outlasted Ickymasho by 2 lengths. Coco Channel took fourth ahead of Daring Duchess, while Sully’s Dream faded to sixth, ahead of only Shezaprado.

Mom’s On Strike returned to the winner’s circle for the fifth time in her past starts, with her lone loss coming last out in the New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes at Fair Grounds. The Joe Sharp-trained 5-year-old daughter by First Dude improved her record to 15-6-4-1 with career earnings of $385,375.

“With her running style, we just figured she needed more ground,” Sharp said. “The stretch here at Keeneland is nice and long. Last time, the ground was pretty firm. There was a little more give in the ground today; I think that definitely helped her.”

Mom’s On Strike returned $11 to win, $4 to place, and $3.20 to show. Daddys Lil Darling brought back $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show, while Ickymasho paid $4.80 to show.