Jockey Tyler Gaffalione put a new spin on going back for seconds on the Thanksgiving Day card at Churchill Downs. After guiding 5-2 favorite Mylady Curlin to victory in the $300,000 Falls City (G2), Gaffalione upset odds-on Starship Jubilee in the Cardinal (G3) aboard the 14-1 Kallio. Both delivered well-timed moves from off the pace.
A return to her favorite distance helped Mylady Curlin return to the winner’s circle. Gobbling up the ground late in the 1 1/8-mile fixture, the Brad Cox pupil outstayed Go Google Yourself inside the final furlong to remain perfect from three starts at the trip.
Mylady Curlin had scored stakes wins in her prior nine-furlong attempts, the Allaire DuPont Distaff (G3) at Pimlico as well as Thistledown’s Lady Jacqueline in August to cap a five-race winning spree. On the cutback in the 1 1/16-mile Locust Grove here in September, the Sather Family homebred was a belated third to Go Google Yourself. Around the one-turn mile of the Chilukki (G3) last out, Mylady Curlin struck the front only to be nabbed by Sally’s Curlin. She’d gain revenge on both in the Falls City.
Teaming up with Gaffalione for the first time, Mylady Curlin was perched in fourth early as Ratajkowski dictated splits of :23.84 and :47.60 on the fast main track. The front runner, initially clear, found the field closing in on her by the six-furlong mark in 1:12.24.
The stalking Go Google Yourself was the first to pounce and tried to edge away, but Mylady Curlin covered her move. Gaining strength as her stamina came to the fore, the Curlin filly swept to a 2 1/4-length decision in 1:50.11.
“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. She seemed to really handle the distance well and responded very well when I asked her for her best run.”
Go Google Yourself was in turn 3 1/2 lengths up on Moonlit Garden, the winner’s stablemate who gave Cox a one-three result.
“Being from Louisville,” Cox said, “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.”
Ratajkowski saved fourth by a neck from the rallying Over Thinking. Next came Vevina; Sally’s Curlin, whose three-race winning streak was halted in her dead-heat seventh with Princess Causeway; and Grandaria.
Mylady Curlin’s resume now reads 15-8-3-2, $718,063. The four-year-old has won or placed in all six stakes appearances, including a romp in the Mari Hulman George Memorial over 1 1/16 miles at Indiana Grand. As noted in the DuPont recap, she is bred on the potent Curlin/Seattle Slew cross. Her dam, multiple stakes winner Ladyledue, is by Slewdledo.
Cardinal surprise Kallio is well-bred herself, as a daughter of Scat Daddy and the stakes-placed Dynaformer mare Smokey Diplomacy from the family of past Ballydoyle star Oratorio. Although her overall form didn’t stand out, Kallio had done well in both of her 1 1/8-mile tries this term, and she produced a new career high to topple two-time Canadian champion turf mare Starship Jubilee.
“She’s a bit of a difficult filly,” said Brendan Walsh, who trains Kallio for Madaket Stables, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron, and Bradley Thoroughbreds. “She’s sometimes not always there mentally but when she puts things together she runs very well. She had a good set-up today and seemed to have really relished the (yielding) ground. She’s getting better with age.”
Part of that good set-up was a ground-saving trip from post 2, in contrast to the tougher passage endured by Starship Jubilee from post 10. Both were reserved well back early as Limari opened up on the lead, but the favorite was trapped wide throughout. Moreover, Starship Jubilee expended energy to improve her position and accost the weakening Limari down the lane.
Kallio tipped out to follow her, and it was soon apparent that an upset was brewing. Starship Jubilee was treading water, but Kallio was full of run. Swamping the Canadian star by three lengths, the 14-1 chance clocked 1:55.07 and paid $31.20 to win.
English Soul was third at every call, and Stave was likewise thereabouts in fourth. Smart Shot, Tweety Show, Limari, Area, Maroubra, Notapradaprice, and Cash Out rounded out the order of finish. Smart Emma was scratched.
Kallio’s first graded coup improved her record to 16-4-2-3, $336,095. The four-year-old earned her first stakes win in the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf at Ellis Park this summer. Although unplaced in the Ladies Turf (G3) at Kentucky Downs and a Keeneland allowance in her last pair, she had been second to Juliet Foxtrot over this course and distance back in May.
“I think she’s continuing to improve with age,” Gaffalione noted, “and she really stayed into the bit today. We were cruising in the stretch.”
Bred by Nolan Creek Farm in Kentucky, Kallio sold for $100,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. Co-owner Bradley Thoroughbreds secured the bay for $160,000 at OBS April.
