Churchill Downs Stakes Recaps & Quotes: Falls City and Cardinal

Nov 28, 2019 Kevin Kerstein,Churchill Downs Communications

Sather Family’s homebred Mylady Curlin rallied from just off the pace to win the 104^th running of the $300,000 Falls City (Grade II) for fillies and mares on Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs.

Mylady Curlin, trained by Louisville-native Brad Cox and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:50.11.

Ratajkowski took early command of the race into the first turn with Go Google Yourself and Princess Causeway tracking in second and third, respectively. Mylady Curlin trailed the opening trio in fourth, 2 ½ lengths behind through an opening quarter mile in :23.84. Ratajkowski continued to lead the field through a half-mile in :47.60 before Go Google Yourself began her bid at the three-eighths pole. Mylady Curlin continued to improve her position at the top of the stretch while Go Google Yourself headed pacesetter Ratajkowski. Moonlit Garden powered past Go Google Yourself in the final stages of the race to win by a comfortable 2 ¼ lengths.

“The extra distance seemed to be the key this afternoon,” Cox said. “Both of our horses ran great today. Moonlit Garden was solid finishing third and we’re very proud of both of them.

Mylady Curlin was the 5-2 post time favorite and returned $7, $3.80, $2.80. Go Google Yourself, with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard, returned $5.60, $3.20 while Moonlit Garden, with Florent Geroux up, paid $4.40.

“She was a really fun ride this afternoon,” Gaffalione said. “She was sitting in a perfect spot the entire race and was cruising comfortably the entire time.”

Mylady Curlin improved her record to 15-8-3-2 and has banked $718,063 in earnings.

Ratajkowski, Over Thinking, Vevina, Sally’s Curlin, Princess Causeway and Gradaria completed the order of finish.

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KALLIO UPSETS STARSHIP JUBILEE IN GRADE III, $175,000 CARDINAL

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019) – Kallio outkicked Grade I winner and odds-on 1-2 favorite Starship Jubilee in deep stretch to score a three-length victory in Thursday’s 46^th running of the $175,000 Cardinal (Grade III) for fillies and mares on Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs.

Kallio, a 4-year-old filly owned by Madaket Stables (Sol Kumin and Jason Monteleone), Tim and Anna Cambron and Bradley Thoroughbreds (Peter R. Bradley III), ran 1 1/8 miles over “yielding” turf in 1:55.07 to collect the first graded stakes win of her career.

Tyler Gaffalione rode the winner for trainer Brendan Walsh. Earlier on the day, Gaffalione piloted Mylady Curlin to victory in the $300,000 Falls City (GII).

Breaking from post position No. 2 in the field of 11, Kallio was rated in eighth from the inside down the backstretch as Limari carved out a clear early lead through fractions of :24.58, :50.02 and 1:15.67. Starship Jubilee, the winner of the Grade I E.P. Taylor at Woodbine in her previous start, commenced her run with a four-wide move around the final turn, and Kallio, who swung to the outside, followed her every step of the way. The favorite took the lead at the top of the stretch but it was short-lived as Kallio relished the soft turf and collared Starship Jubilee just inside the final furlong to draw clear late.

The triumph was worth $101,990 and increased the Kentucky-bred’s earnings to $336,095. She boasts a record of 4-2-3 in 16 starts. Previously, Kallio finished seventh, but was beaten only four lengths, in a $77,000 allowance over 1 1/16 miles on Keeneland’s turf course on Oct. 19. In August, Kallio won the $98,625 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf at Ellis Park.

Kallio returned mutuels of $31.20, $7.20 and $5.80 at odds of 14-1. Starship Jubilee, ridden by Luis Contreras, returned $3.20 and $2.80. Third-place finisher English Soul, under Declan Cannon, was another 1 ¾ lengths back in third and paid $10.60 to show.

The order of finish was completed by Stave, Smart Shot, Tweety Show, Limari, Area, Maroubra (FR), Notapradaprice and Cash Out. Smart Emma was scratched.

Kallio is a daughter of the late stallion Scat Daddy out of the Dynaformer mare Smokey Diplomacy.

FALLS CITY QUOTES

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey of MYLADY CURLIN (winner): “She was a really fun ride this afternoon. She was sitting in a perfect spot the entire race and was cruising comfortably the entire time. She seemed to really handle the distance well and responded very well when I asked her for her best run.”

Brad Cox, trainer of MYLADY CURLIN (winner), MOONLIT GARDEN (third): “Being from Louisville it’s really fun winning a race like this on Thanksgiving. The extra distance seemed to be the key this afternoon. Both of our horses ran great today. Moonlit Garden was solid finishing third and we’re very proud of both of them.”

Brian Hernandez Jr., jockey of GO GOOGLE YOURSELF (winner): “We sat a great trip and thought we were gone turning for home. She ran a great race against a nice field of horses.”

CARDINAL QUOTES

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey of KALLIO (winner): “She’s seemed to run everywhere this year and keeps performing well. I think she’s continuing to improve with age and she really stayed into the bit today. We were cruising in the stretch.”

Brendan Walsh, trainer of KALLIO (winner): “She’s a bit of a difficult filly. She’s sometimes not always there mentally but when she puts things together she runs very well. She had a good setup today and seemed to have really relished the ground. She’s getting better with age.”

Luis Contreras, jockey of STARSHIP JUBILEE (runner-up): “She didn’t really handle the ground well today. I thought she was in the right spot but never got a hold of the turf. It’s pretty soft out there.”

Declan Cannon, jockey of ENGLISH SOUL (third): “She ran a beautiful effort today. She loved the soft going and really handled the surface well. It was just a really nice effort overall to get third.”