2022 Cardinal Stakes Preview & FREE Picks | Will Dalika Get Loose Up Front At Churchill Downs?

Mike previews the 2022 Cardinal Stakes (G3) from Churchill Downs, then gives his top picks & long shots. Already a winner over this course and distance in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1) earlier this year, is Dalika a potential runaway winner with another favorable pace scenario? Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The track press release:

Bal Mar Equine’s $500,000 Beverly D. (Grade I) winner Dalika will return to Churchill Downs and headline a contentious field of 10 fillies and mares that were entered in the $300,000 Cardinal Stakes (GIII) on Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs.

The 47th running of the Cardinal will be run at 1 1/8 miles on turf and go as Race 11 of 12 at 4:22 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 11:30 a.m. The card also will feature the $500,000 Falls City (GIII), which will go as Race 10 at 3:53 p.m.

Trained by Al Stall Jr., Dalika was the half-length victor in the Aug. 13 Beverly D., which was contested for the first time at Churchill Downs. The striking gray 5-year-old mare primarily trains at the Skylight Training Center, located about 40 minutes from Churchill Downs in Goshen, Ky. Overall, Dalika has won nine of her 30 starts and tabbed $1,292,786 in purse earnings. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will be in the saddle for the Cardinal and break from post No. 5.

The competitive Cardinal field also includes Godolphin’s Grade III winner Adventuring and Grade III placed Lake Lucerne and Silverton Hill’s multiple stakes winner Pass the Plate.

Here is the complete field for the Cardinal from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Pass the Plate (Joe Talamo, Paul McGee)
2. Disappearing Act (Corey Lanerie, Carlos Santamaria)
3. Perseverancia (Julien Leparoux, Cherie DeVaux)
4. Lake Lucerne (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)
5. Dalika (GER) (Hernandez, Stall)
6. Adventuring (Joel Rosario, Brad Cox)
7. Sunny One (Vince Cheminaud, Conor Murphy)
8. Flippant (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver)
9. Curly Ruth (Luis Saez, Eddie Kenneally)
10. Wave of Goodness (Mitchell Murrill, Armando Hernandez)