Beschizza pilots Mom's On Strike to Bewitch upset

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Most Keeneland fans never had heard of Adam Beschizza when the spring meet started April 6, but those paying attention for the last three weeks now know at least a little something about the British native: he wins.

Beschizza sent the Keeneland faithful home impressed with his saddle skills when giving Mom’s On Strike a heady come-from-behind ride in upsetting heavily favored Daddys Lil Darling as the 16-day meet came to an end Friday with the 57th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Bewitch Stakes. It was the first graded stakes victory in North America for Beschizza, who only began race-riding on this continent at Fair Grounds this winter.

“I’m thrilled for the mare and for the whole team,” said Beschizza, who was aboard for owners Brad Gray and Carl Moore and trainer Joe Sharp.

Before an ontrack crowd of 18,690, Sully’s Dream set the pace for the other six fillies and mares in the 1 1/2-mile turf race, but she was finished by the time the field reached the third and final turn. Daddys Lil Darling, always in good position as the 3-5 favorite under Mike Smith, then briefly took command from Ickymasho upon turning for home, but she had no response for Mom’s On Strike, who was in full flight with an outside run. The win margin was 3 1/4 lengths, with Ickymasho another two lengths behind Daddys Lil Darling in third.

Mom’s On Strike, a 5-year-old Florida-bred mare by First Dude, returned $11 as third choice after finishing in 2:30.02 over a firm course. It was her sixth win from 15 career starts and also her first in a graded event.

“The distance probably suits me and her quite well,” said Beschizza, 25. “This route is ideal for her as she can get into a nice rhythm and allows her to lengthen away. And from what I know back home, we race over further.”

Beschizza and Sharp, both coming off a very successful meet at Fair Grounds, also teamed earlier in the Keeneland meet to upset a huge favorite on turf when Triple Chelsea defeated Lady Aurelia in the April 14 Giant’s Causeway. In all, Beschizza had 11 wins in his first meet here.

The $2 exacta (2-5) paid $22.80, the $1 trifecta (2-5-1) returned $59.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-5-1-4) was worth $29.91.

Live action on the Kentucky circuit now moves to Churchill Downs, where the 38-day spring meet begins Saturday evening with a 10-race Downs After Dark card.