A area of 11 turf fillies and mares will collect beneath the dual spires at Churchill Downs on Thanksgiving Nov. 28 within the $300,000 Cardinal Stakes (G3T) over 1 1/8 miles. Bradley Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Cambron Equine, and Laura Leigh Steady’s Implicated is the lone graded winner within the area, an accomplishment she’s achieved twice.
The newest of these victories got here by 1 3/4 lengths at Woodbine June 29 within the Nassau Stakes (G2T), however she has been unable to search out that kind since. After lackluster efforts within the Aug. 31 Kentucky Downs Girls Turf Stakes (G3T)—which coach Brendan Walsh attributed to the filly not dealing with Kentucky Downs‘ floor—and the Oct. 5 First Girl Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland, Walsh is hopeful a return to Churchill Downs will deliver a return to kind for the 4-year-old daughter of Join .
“She has proven a liking for the observe right here,” Walsh stated in regards to the Louisville, Ky., course, over which she gained a one-mile allowance non-compulsory claimer in Might. “It seems like this can be a great spot for her, so I am anticipating her to run very nicely.”
Walsh will even saddle Qatar Racing’s Queen Regent , who started her profession with eight begins in Europe.
The 4-year-old Roaring Lion filly handed her first American take a look at for Walsh by successful a Kentucky Downs allowance in September. She is going to enter the beginning gate Thursday 19 days after her third-place end within the Nov. 9 Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) at Woodbine, her stakes debut.
“She’s a progressive filly. She ought to get the tempo that she wants right here,” Walsh stated. “We’re coming again just a little fast together with her, however she looks as if she’s accomplished nicely since she ran at Woodbine. We’re longing for an excellent run.”
Additionally longing for a superb run is coach Ian Wilkes, who sends out Whitham Thoroughbreds’ stakes-winning homebred Magical Lute .
Magical Lute wins the Iowa Distaff Stakes at Prairie Meadows
The 4-year-old Maclean’s Music filly has discovered her technique to this spot by luck of—or lack thereof—the situation e book. With no fascinating grime race on the situations, Wilkes took a shot with Magical Lute on the turf for the primary time in her 17-race profession Oct. 18 at Keeneland. She carried out nicely, ending third whereas crushed simply three-quarters of a size.
“I had by no means run her on the turf so I gave her a attempt to her effort was a extremely good race,” Wilkes stated. “It was value attempting once more simply to see how she likes it; was it a fluke effort or was it for actual?”
Wilkes initially needed to run her in one other allowance, however when the supposed race did not fill he shifted gears towards successful the filly’s first stakes.
Narrowly forward of her in that Keeneland allowance was runner-up Stir Loopy , who additionally returns on this spot for coach Mike Maker and homeowners Paradise Farms and David Staudacher.
Different stakes winners within the area embrace Brownwood Farm’s High quality Star for coach Paulo Lobo and Jane Bacharach, William DeBurgh, and Richard Schatz’s Cover Day .
Entries: Cardinal S. (G3T)
Churchill Downs, Thursday, November 28, 2024, Race 11
- Grade IIIT
- 1 1/8m
- Turf
- $300,000
- 3 yo’s & up Fillies and Mares
- 4:14 PM (native)
