Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
NYRA Press Release: Trainer Mark Hennig said Strike Charmer has been looking good as she prepares for the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana on July 23 at Saratoga Race Course. The 6-year-old bay mare won the Grade 3 Beaugay on May 14 at Belmont Park before finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Just a Game last out.
Strike Charmer breezed four furlongs in 49.55 seconds on July 3 on Belmont’s inner turf. Hennig said she will breeze again Sunday morning, weather permitting, and is scheduled to depart Belmont for Saratoga on July 19.
“She’s worked well and she’s still on course for the Diana,” Hennig said.
The daughter of Smart Strike is 5-4-3 in 19 career starts and will be looking for her first career Grade 1 victory. Despite going three-wide, Strike Charmer never was able to make a strong push in the one-mile Just a Game, but her connections are hopeful the 1 1/8-mile Diana will lead to better results.
“More distance will help her and hopefully she gets a cleaner trip,” Hennig said.
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