Strike Charmer Has Cardinal Foes Seeing Red

When last they met in the Kentucky Downs Ladies’ Turf S. Sept. 13, I’m Already Sexy (Ready’s Image) was the even-money favorite to the near 6-1 about Strike Charmer. It was 8-5 on the expected pacesetter, but double digits on Strike Charmer, who pounced late to register the upset. A maiden winner over this course and distance in June 2013, Strike Charmer was close fourth in a Saratoga allowance a couple months later and closed the season with a runner-up effort beneath the Twin Spires in September. The homebred, whose dam was third in this track’s GII Mrs. Revere S. in 2007, took her first start off an eight-month absence here May 25 and was fifth back at the Spa Aug. 2. She added blinkers and dead-heated for second in upstate New York Aug. 18 ahead of her effort in Franklin last time out, where she was three lengths back at the wire. I’m Already Sexy won the break and set off by her lonesome through apparently even sectionals of :23.82 and :47.69 and strung out her rivals behind her. She was given a bit of a breather by Calvin Borel and backed the pace down a bit to leave the three-eighths marker behind in 1:13 flat, but they were taking closer order and Strike Charmer had slid up the fence from fourth to be in striking distance at the head of the stretch. The Courtlandt runner engaged and raced past the pacesetter at the three-sixteenths marker with relative ease and outfinished Pappascat for the victory. Antonia Autumn rounded out a $14,877 trifecta. “I’ve got to give [winning trainer] Dave [Carroll] a lot of the credit,” offered jockey Chris Landeros. “The way she’s been training and the way she presented herself today, gosh, that’s what separates the good ones from the mediocre ones. It was a blessing to get on her. She was very impressive today. Everything she did was 110%. I got a little split when I needed it to. It was just a great trip. When you have the horse, it makes your job a lot easier.” 

Saturday, Churchill Downs 
CARDINAL H.-GIII, $119,700, CDX, 11-22, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:49 4/5, gd. 
1–#@STRIKE CHARMER, 116, f, 4, by Smart Strike 
     1st Dam: Cat Charmer (SW & GSP, $121,860), by Storm Cat 
     2nd Dam: Misconduct, by Criminal Type 
     3rd Dam: Stick to Beauty, by Illustrious 
O/B-Courtlandt Farm (KY); T-David M Carroll; J-Chris 
Landeros. $67,535. Lifetime Record: 10-3-3-1, 
$206,835. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the 
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pappascat, 116, f, 4, Scat Daddy–Redmeansgo, by 
Red Ransom. ($77,000 yrl ’11 KEESEP). O-Travis 
Morgeson V LLC; B-C Kidder, J K & Linda Griggs 
(KY); T-Garry W Simms. $21,785. 
3–Antonia Autumn, 114, m, 5, Bernstein–Chipeta 
Springs, by Alydar. O-Castleton Lyons; B-Castleton 
Lyons & Kilboy Estate (KY); T-Ben Colebrook. 
$10,893. 
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 12.30, 19.40, 55.80. 
Also Ran: I’m Already Sexy, Nellie Cashman, Keening, Bitty Kitty, Northern Passion, Rosee Is Cozee, Annabird, Royal Fury, Angegreen (Ity), Honey Lake, Street of Gold. Scratched: Frivolous, Imposing Grace. 
Click for the brisnet.com chart or the brisnet.com PPs. VIDEO.