James Miller's grade I winner Daisy Devine heads a field of nine older fillies and mares entered for the $100,000 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the turf Nov. 10 at Churchill Downs, but the proven speedster could face a challenge from Winter Memories' half sister, the late-closing La Cloche.
Daisy Devine, a 4-year-old Kafwain filly trained by Andrew McKeever, carries high weight of 122 off a runner-up finish in the First Lady Stakes (gr. IT) Oct. 6 at Keeneland. She seeks her first victory since the April 14 Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IT) at the Lexington track in the 1 1/8 mile Cardinal, which goes as race nine on a 10-race card with an approximate post time of 4:37 p.m. EST.
McKeever's runner stole the 1 1/16-mile Jenny Wiley with a wire-to-wire run but finished fifth in the Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) at Churchill May 5 and was then sent to the sidelines until the Keeneland return. She came back with a game run against top turf filly Tapitsfly, who prevailed by just half a length at the mile distance in the First Lady, and appears eligible to improve in her second start since the layoff.
La Cloche, however, could be poised to catch the speedy runner with her late kick. Phillips Racing's half sister to retired grade I winner Winter Memories came flying over good turf last time out, taking the 1 1/16-mile Athenia Stakes (gr. IIIT) Oct. 13 at Belmont Park in her first graded score for Jimmy Toner. The 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare gets a four-pound break in the weights, assigned 118, and should only benefit from added ground.
Catesby Clay's Bizzy Caroline also carries 118, but is backing up versus stretching out after finishing sixth, beaten five lengths, in the Sept. 29 Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) going 1 1/4 miles at Belmont for Ken McPeek. A 4-year-old daughter of Afleet Alex , she was coming off a 1 1/2-length second in the 1 3/8-mile Glens Falls Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Saratoga Race Course. Her most recent victory dates back to the spring meet at Churchill, where she took the Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) by a neck going 1 1/16 miles after running from fifth to get up in time.
Several stakes winners seek their initial graded scores in the Cardinal, including De La Rose Stakes victress Julie's Love for Andreas Jacobs and trainer Graham Motion. The British-bred daughter of Ad Valorem was group I-placed in France last year and has three victories in North America earned from both off the pace and on the lead. Last out, she ran second to Romacaca by 1 3/4 lengths after stalking the leader Oct. 6 in the 1 1/16-mile Indian Maid Handicap at Hawthorne.
Souped Up Stables' Revelstoke and Augustin Stable's Fugitive Angel are winners of minor stakes in 2011, the latter at Presque Isle Downs and the former at Mountaineer. Both appear to be outclassed by this group. Melnyk Racing Stables' Indian Pond also is in deep for trainer Mark Casse, having not scored in five starts since winning the 1 1/8-mile Carotene Stakes at Woodbine in October 2011.
Allowance winners Affair Dabbler and Last Full Measure complete the field.
$100,000 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT, Race 9, approximate post 4:37 p.m. EDT), fillies and mares 3YOs & up, 1 1/8 miles (turf)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Bizzy Caroline (KY), C.J. Lanerie, 118, K G McPeek
2. La Cloche (KY), J. Alvarado, 118, J J Toner
3. Revelstoke (KY), J.L. Castanon, 114, J Corrigan
4. Daisy Devine (KY), C.H. Borel, 122, A. McKeever
5. Affair Dabbler (KY), L.R. Goncalves, 115, D C Kassen
6. Last Full Measure (KY), J.K. Court, 115, P J Oliver
7. Indian Pond (ON), M. Mena, 117, M E Casse
8. Fugitive Angel (PA), S. Bridgmohan, 115, J E Sheppard
9. Julie's Love (GB), J. Rocco, Jr., 117, H G Motion