The Cardinal Handicap (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
CD- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
November 21, 2015

Somehow, Devil Wears Prada was made a 10/1 longshot in the morning line.  Thankfully, people at the track didn’t fall for that nonsense and were able to bet her down to a more reasonable 7/2.  It had been a while since she had last won, almost a year ago to this date, in fact.  However the Grade 3 Cardinal is not the Taylor Stakes nor is it the Personal Ensign.  Maverick Racing brought her to CD with only one thing on his mind, and that would be that his filly would get back into the winners circle.  Devil Wears Prada came through today on soft turf, and perhaps this win will lead to a resurgence for her.  The victory puts her just over $1,300.000 in career earnings, and was her sixth in 23 career starts.    It’s the first time Maverick Racing has been able to celebrate a Cardinal Handicap victory, but is the third time that jockey C Borel has.  Let’s take a look at how things went down.

1st- 2- Devil Wears Prada (7/2)- Our eventual race winner out of Maverick Racing got off to an average start.  She was not concerned with what Three Little Birds was doing early, but still tried to maintain a midpack position.  C Borel allowed the pacesetter to be all by her lonesome over the course of the backstretch, and as they approached the turn, Devil Wears Prada begin to gradually nibble away at that lead.  By the exit of the turn, she had cut the advantage to three lengths, and not too long into stretch run, she was only about a length off of our tiring winner.  The question would not be whether or not she could pass Three Little Birds, but whether or not Dark Madre would catch her.  With just over half a furlong to go, she made the pass for the lead, but impressively was able to stay running all out in order to hold off Dark Madre, and get the win! The time of the win over the soft CD turf was 1:51.37.   Devil Wears Prada is a four year old filly by O Cayman and out of Ideology (by Swarley). She was bred in West Virginia by Riddler Racing and has been with Maverick Racing since April of this year.  Congratulations to all of the connections!

2nd- 5- Dark Madre (23/1)- The longest shot on the board was not interested in being up with the leaders early, content to trail the field for Tirstar Stables at this stage of the race.  Remained at the back for the duration of the backstretch, but as they moved in the turn, J Valdivia Jr told her it was time to make a move, and Dark Madre set up to go three wide around the two The Sidley Stud horses.  In the stretch, she ran all out, and was able to catch Three Little Birds.  Dark Madre was reeling in Devil Wears Prada late, but the wire came up too soon.

3rd- 3- Three Little Birds (4/5)- Fired out of the gate for her trainer, Threshold, with a two and a half length lead the first time they crossed the finish line.  She would lead the field into the opening turn while setting a :49.12 opening half mile.  At one point in the backstretch, she had opened up a five length advantage, but as they approached the final turn, Devil Wears Prada was gearing up.  She had no answer for this move, and was no match for the winner, but did try to linger in there the best she could.

4th- 1- Crackdown (4/1)- Unhurried out of the gate for The Sidley Stud, starting near the back of the pack.  Maintained this position during the backstretch, but seemed to wait until Dark Madre drew even with her before she started to make a move of her own, as if that was her wake up call.  Crackdown heeded that call and also looked good on exit of the turn.  Over the course of the stretch she could not keep up with Dark Madre, and settles for 4th.

5th- 4- Shake It Daddy (5/1)- Look good in the early going for The Sidley Stud.  It looked as though she wanted to stalk Three Little Birds early, but then was reigned in as they made their way around the turn.  She was even with Devil Wears Prada until the midway point in the backstretch, but as that one moved forward, Shake It Daddy started heading back.

Track: Soft
Time: :49   1:13³  1:38³  1:51¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 5 Paid 114.60
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 5 – 3 Paid 205.90

Scratched: None

Winner picked by NS

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES