Multiple Stakes Winner Dalika Set for Return in Sunday's Wide Open Grade III, $200,000 Old Forester Mint Julep

Jun 02, 2022 Churchill Downs Communications

Bal Mar Equine’s seven-time winning mare Dalika (GER) is set to make her first start since October against an ultra-competitive cast of nine rivals that entered Sunday’s $200,000 Old Forester Mint Julep (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

The Mint Julep, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as Race 9 of 10 with a post time of 4:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Al Stall Jr., the speedy Dalika (GER) won last year’s Robert Dick Memorial (GIII) at Delaware and Al Stall Memorial at Fair Grounds. The gray mare has done most of her training this spring at Skylight Training Center, located in Goshen, Ky. Dalika (GER) has recorded two of her seven wins at Churchill Downs and has only one start locally where she finished outside the top 2. The late Miguel Mena rode Dalika (GER) in nine of her last 10 starts. Ricardo Santana Jr., who was close friends with Mena, will be in the saddle Sunday from post No. 6.

Other top contenders that entered the Mint Julep include Grade III winner Gam’s Mission, two-time stakes victor Hendy Woods, recent allowance winners Market Rumor and Petricor (GB) and Group III winner Waliyak (FR).

Here’s the complete field for the Old Forester Mint Julep from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Petricor (GB) (Florent Geroux, Bill Mott); Market Rumor (Chris Landeros, Ian Wilkes); Waliyak (FR) (Joe Talamo, Ed Vaughan); Keeper of Time (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh); Lake Lucerne (Julien Leparoux, Brendan Walsh); Dalika (GER) (Santana, Stall); Gam’s Mission (Adam Beschizza, Cherie DeVaux); Ambassador Luna (Rafael Bejarano, Ben Colebrook); Hendy Woods (Brian Hernandez Jr., Mark Casse); and Take Charge Ro (James Graham, Brian Lynch).

Wagering for Sunday’s Mint Julep Stakes and every race from Churchill Downs is available on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.