Charlie Em, Scarlet Strike Top Honeymoon Handicap

In Saturday's Grade II Honeymoon Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park, Charlie Em and Scarlet Strike, the 1-2 finishers in the Grade III Senorita Stakes May 11, top the field of eleven.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trained by Paddy Gallagher, who won the 2005 Honeymoon with Three Degrees and again in 2007 with Valbenny, Charlie Em surprised Scarlet Strike by a head in her United States debut in the Senorita.

A daughter of Kheleyf out of the Pivotal mare Miss Meggy, Charlie Em has won four of nine and earned $75,678.

The 3-5 choice in the Senorita, Scarlet Strike was wide throughout in the Senorita and came up short in the photo finish.

A Smart Strike filly out of the French Deputy mare Scarlet Tango, Scarlet Strike has two wins in 11 outings and a bankroll of $352,340 for a partnership that includes John Carver, Green Smith and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Hollendorfer will also saddle Macha, a Majestic Warrior filly he owns with Green B. Smith, Jr. Out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Giant Leap, the New York bred has two wins in seven races and earnings of $72,020.

Macha is 1-for-1 over the Betfair Hollywood Park turf, winning a $54,250 allowance by 2 ½ lengths May 17.

Kyriaki stretches to the distance of her lone victory after finishing third in the Senorita for owner Domenic Savides and trainer Peter Eurton. The Scat Daddy filly out of the Dixieland Band mare Tally Ho Dixie has started four times and earned $52,570. She graduated by a half-length March 2 at Santa Anita.

Eurton, who won the 2012 Honeymoon with My Gi Gi, could be the first trainer to repeat since Paulo Lobo went back-to-back with Quero Quero in 2003 and Lovely Rafaela in 2004.

In search of his first Honeymoon victory, Sadler is scheduled to send out Sweet Red Cat and Scooter Bird.

Owned by the Batchelor Family Trust and Judi Partridge, Sweet Red Cat has won two of seven. The Bluegrass Cat filly out of the Lord Avie mare Sweet Soul was fourth as the favorite in the allowance won by Macha last month. She’s earned $83,390.

Scooter Bird broke her maiden by a nose – at the Honeymoon distance – May 17 in her fifth start on turf. The daughter of War Pass and the Well Decorated mare Miz Emmalou has earned $44,090 in seven overall races for Hronis Racing LLC.

Mandella, who won the 1993 Honeymoon with Likeable Style, will be represented by Sarach. Owned by the Wertheimers, the Arch filly out of the Atticus mare Eximius is 2-for-7 with a bankroll of $78,742.

Wittgenstein will be trying to rebound from a subpar performance – ninth of 10 – in the Grade II Providencia April 6 at Santa Anita.

The Irish bred daughter of Shamardal and the Definite Article mare La Vita E Bella has won two of 12 and earned $76,165. She’s trained by Doug O’Neill, who won the 2000 Honeymoon with Classy Cara, for Reddam Racing, LLC.

Becky Lou steps into graded company after a nose win at 32-1 in an optional claimer in her U.S. bow April 18 at Santa Anita.

Trained by Matt Chew for Daniel O’Neill, the Johannesburg filly out of the El Corredor mare Elle Nicole has won two of six and banked $44,796.

Second behind Macha May 17 in her return to Betfair Hollywood Park, Somethingabouther has one win in 10 starts and earnings of $70,100. The War Chant filly out of the Mt. Livermore mare Mountain Bonfire is trained by Jim Cassidy, who captured the 2010 Honeymoon with Evening Jewel, for owner Deron Pearson.

Blingismything was a first out winner at 15-1 going a mile May 4  The daughter of Arch and the General Meeting mare Dancing General earned $31,200 for the victory for Class Racing Stable and trainer Eric Kruljac.

From inside out, the field for the Honeymoon Handicap: Somethingabouther, David Flores rides, 114 pounds; Scooter Bird, Kevin Krigger, 114; Blingismything, Brice Blanc, 114; Macha, Martin Pedroza, 116; Scarlet Strike, Rafael Bejarano, 122; Becky Lou, Tyler Baze, 115; Wittgenstein, Mario Gutierrez, 115; Sarach, Martin Garcia, 116; Charlie Em, Victor Espinoza, 119; Sweet Red Cat, Alonso Quinonez, 115 and Kyriaki, Joe Talamo, 116.

The 123-pound top weight in the Manhattan Beach is Judy in Disguise. Trained by Callaghan for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, the Elusive City filly out of the Machiavellian mare Tomorrow’s World has won two of four – including the Sweet Life Stakes Feb. 16 at Santa Anita - since coming to the United States.

Her opponents, from inside out, include Kinz Funky Monkey, Upbeat Mood, Disko Dasko, Tizmetizyou, Unwritten Law, Lady Rosamond and My Lil Shamrock.