Courtsey of the TDN
Scarlet Strike gave her sire a second graded winner on the day and her breeder a second graded win on the card. The half-sister to GI King’s Bishop S. winner Visionaire (Grand Slam) had a productive juvenile campaign last term, She placed in the GI Chandelier S. at Santa Anita Sept. 29 and in the GI Hollywood Starlet S. Dec. 8, and just missed a first stakes score on New Year’s Day when beaten a nose in the Blue Norther S. in her turf debut at Santa Anita. She was no threat to the winners when third in the GIII Sana Ysabel S. back on the dirt Jan. 26 and in Beholder’s GI Las Virgenes S. Mar. 2, and was returning to the grass here.
Scarlet Strike, under Rafael Bejarano, launched her rally from a mid-pack position and, after hooking Birdlover in upper stretch, wore down that game rival. “A terrific race for this filly—I’, very proud of her, “said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. “Rafael has a real knack for being in the right place at the right time, and I think that’s the reason why he’s doing so well. We have a very good rapport with him and his agent. You couldn’t get a better ride than that. “Scarlett Strike’s sire Smart Strike also sired yesterdays’s GI Carter H. winner Swagger Jack, while her breeder Stonestreet Stables bred GII Potrero Grande winner Jimmy Creed (Distorted Humor).