Return to turf stakes the goal for Scarlet Strike

ARCADIA, Calif. – Earlier in her career, Scarlet Strike ran in 10 consecutive stakes in Southern California, including a win in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes in 2013 and second- and third-place finishes in eight other stakes. She could be on the verge of another string of stakes appearances if she runs well in an optional claimer over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Thursday.

The optional claimer will be Scarlet Strike’s second start of 2014, preceded by a troubled last-place finish in a field of five in an optional claimer over 5 1/2 furlongs at Golden Gate Fields on April 6.

Scarlet Strike did not start in the final months of 2013 after finishing sixth in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park last July.

“I’m trying to get her back so we can run her the rest of the year,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “We’ve given her plenty of time, and she’s responded.”

Scarlet Strike has won 2 of 14 starts and earned $383,210. Her string of stakes appearances from September 2012 to last July included a second to Executiveprivilege in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on dirt at Santa Anita, a third to Pure Fun in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet for 2-year-old fillies on the synthetic track at Hollywood Park, and a second to Sarach in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Hollywood.

Thursday’s optional claimer will be Scarlet Strike’s first start at a mile since she finished a fast-closing second by a head to Charlie Em in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at Hollywood Park last May.

Charlie Em, trained by Paddy Gallagher, is winless in nine starts since that race and also starts in Thursday’s optional claimer.

Other prominent runners in the field are Buckingham Bull and Kathleen Rose, who each won her last start, and One Time Only and Rhagori, who have recent races that could make them a factor.

Buckingham Bull, entered to be claimed for $62,500, led throughout an optional claimer on dirt in her last start Feb. 23. She won a starter allowance on turf from off the pace in December.

Rhagori was scratched from the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes last Sunday to run Thursday. A four-time winner in England, Rhagori won her American debut March 7.

Kathleen Rose was scratched from the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita last Saturday in favor of this spot. Kathleen Rose has won three of her last four starts for trainer Mike Machowsky.

One Time Only has ample speed. She won consecutive starts in a maiden race and an allowance race on turf this year but was last of eight in the American Beauty Stakes on March 29 after setting the pace to early stretch.