# Cardinal Stakes (USA)

The Cardinal Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and older over a distance of one and one eighth miles on the turf held annually in November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event offers a purse of $100,000.

## History

The event was named after the official state bird of Kentucky, the Northern cardinal.
The event was inaugurated on 23 November 1974, as the Kentucky Cardinal Stakes as a 1+1⁄16 miles dirt race for three year olds and was won by veterinarian Albert F. Polk Jr's Cut the Talk, who was trained by Ohio native James E. (Jim) Morgan and ridden by Darrell Brown in a time of 1:451⁄5.
The event was run for three year olds only one more time in 1975. In the 1976 the conditions of the event were changed to fillies and mares that were three years old or older at a distance of seven furlongs as the Kentucky Cardinal Handicap. In 1982 the event was increased to 1 mile for one year and in 1983 increased again to back its inaugural running distance of 1+1⁄16 miles. In 1987 the event was scheduled on the turf over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles with the name Cardinal Handicap. The following year the distance of the event increased to 1+1⁄8 miles but it was moved off the turf and onto the main track due to inclement weather.
The American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event as Grade III in 1995. The 2017 edition of the race, won by Tricky Escape, was run on dirt as the turf course was deemed unfit for racing. The race's Grade III status was kept for 2017.
The event has been run in split divisions nine times, the last of which was in 1990.
The event was run as a handicap prior to 2019.
The event was not run in 2020 and 2021.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:47.29 – Daisy Devine (2012)
* 1+1⁄16 miles (dirt): 1:45.20 - Cut the Talk (1974)
* 7 furlongs (dirt): 1:24.20 - Unreality (1978), Safe Play (1981)
Margins:
* 10 lengths – Star Fortress (IRE) (2023)
Most wins:
* no horse with more than one win
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Helen C. Alexander (1988, 1992, 2009)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 – Pat Day (1983, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1995)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 6 – William I. Mott (1985, 1987, 1995, 1997, 2008, 2011)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| Cardinal Stakes |||||||||||
| 2023 | Star Fortress (IRE) | 4 | Luis Saez | Cherie DeVaux | John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.10 | $267,500 | III | |
| 2022 | Dalika (GER) | 6 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Albert Stall Jr. | Bal Mar Equine | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.61 | $268,500 | III | |
| 2020–2021 | 2020–2021 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2019 | Kallio | 4 | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan P. Walsh | Madaket Stables, Tim & Anna Cambron, Bradley Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:55.07 | $175,000 | III | |
| Cardinal Handicap |||||||||||
| 2018 | English Affair | 5 | Corey J. Lanerie | George R. Arnold II | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.41 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2017 | Tricky Escape | 4 | Christopher P. DeCarlo | Lynn A. Ashby | Jon A. Marshall | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.85 | $100,000 | III | Off turf |
| 2016 | Cash Control | 5 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Brad H. Cox | Richard & Bertram Klein | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.39 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2015 | Button Down (GB) | 4 | Paco Lopez | Josie Carroll | Greenwood Lodge Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:56.19 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2014 | Strike Charmer | 4 | Chris Landeros | David M. Carroll | Courtlandt Farms | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.97 | $119,700 | III | |
| 2013 | Abaco | 5 | Rosie Napravnik | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.85 | $112,800 | III | |
| 2012 | Daisy Devine | 4 | Calvin H. Borel | Andrew McKeever | James M. Miller | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.29 | $111,500 | III | |
| 2011 | Deluxe | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | William I. Mott | Juddmonte Farms | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.53 | $109,900 | III | |
| 2010 | Askbut I Won'ttell | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Chris M. Block | Team Block & Rich Ege | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.41 | $109,900 | III | |
| 2009 | Acoma | 4 | Jesus Lopez Castanon | David M. Carroll | Helen C. Alexander & Helen K. Groves | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.02 | $111,700 | III | |
| 2008 | Indescribable | 4 | Kent J. Desormeaux | William I. Mott | Courtlandt Farms | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:55.77 | $113,400 | III | |
| 2007 | Criminologist | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.06 | $164,550 | III | |
| 2006 | Sabellina | 5 | Julien R. Leparoux | Charles Simon | Jay A. Lieberman | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.96 | $171,750 | III | |
| 2005 | Sundrop (JPN) | 4 | Mark Guidry | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.10 | $175,050 | III | |
| 2004 | Aud | 4 | Brice Blanc | Anthony L. Reinstedler | Willmott Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.94 | $173,550 | III | |
| 2003 | Riskaverse | 4 | Cornelio Velasquez | Patrick J. Kelly | Fox Ridge Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.53 | $175,200 | III | |
| 2002 | Quick Tip | 4 | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.08 | $173,100 | III | |
| 2001 | Watch | 4 | Craig Perret | Frank L. Brothers | Claiborne Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.12 | $169,350 | III | |
| 2000 | Illiquidity | 4 | Jon Court | Patrick B. Byrne | Stonerside Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.72 | $176,100 | III | |
| 1999 | Pratella | 4 | Brian Dale Peck | Burk Kessinger Jr. | Bruce Barton & Alvin D. Haynes | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.88 | $171,450 | III | |
| 1998 | B. A. Valentine | 5 | Jorge F. Chavez | Dale L. Romans | Alberta Butner | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.62 | $180,150 | III | |
| 1997 | Colcon | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Cavallix | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.89 | $175,650 | III | |
| 1996 | † Miss Caerleona (FR) | 4 | Larry Melancon | Niall M. O'Callaghan | Stonerside Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.81 | $117,500 | III | |
| 1995 | Apolda | 4 | Pat Day | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.59 | $116,200 | III | |
| 1994 | Bold Ruritana (CAN) | 4 | Pat Day | James E. Day | Minshall Farms | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.25 | $117,500 | Listed | |
| 1993 | River Ball (ARG) | 4 | James Parsley | Thomas Kurt Arnemann | Thomas & Jurgen K Arnemann | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:55.79 | $115,300 | Listed | |
| 1992 | Auto Dial | 4 | Shane Sellers | Frank L. Brothers | Helen C. Alexander | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.04 | $110,000 | Listed | Off turf |
| 1991 | Christiecat | 4 | Angel Cordero Jr. | Patrick J. Kelly | Fox Ridge Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.10 | $115,400 | Listed | |
| 1990 | Dance for Lucy | 4 | Dave Penna | Sheldon Wolfe | Alex Schmidt | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.80 | $60,425 | | Division 1 |
| 1990 | Lady in Silver | 4 | Pat Day | Flint S. Schulhofer | Morven Stud | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.40 | $59,675 | | Division 2 |
| 1989 | Townsend Lass | 4 | K. Keith Allen | Mark A. Rimer | Richard Kaster & Bruce Dresdner | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.00 | $88,050 | | |
| 1988 | Top Corsage | 5 | Pat Valenzuela | Jerry M. Fanning | Helen C. Alexander | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.40 | $56,650 | | Off turf |
| 1987 | Lake Champlain (IRE) | 4 | Pat Day | William I. Mott | Mrs. Diana Firestone | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.20 | $57,600 | | |
| 1986 | Oriental | 4 | K. Keith Allen | Jack Van Berg | Robert Kruger, Robert Snell & William Thimigan | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $47,775 | | |
| Kentucky Cardinal Stakes |||||||||||
| 1985 | Mrs. Revere | 4 | Larry Melancon | William I. Mott | Dr. Hiram Polk & David Richardson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.20 | $33,682 | | Division 1 |
| 1985 | Mr. T.'s Tune | 4 | K. Keith Allen | Carl A. Nafzger | Warren Terry | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.20 | $34,182 | | Division 2 |
| 1984 | Electric Fanny | 3 | Julio C. Espinoza | Harvey L. Vanier | GM Breeding Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.00 | $32,725 | | |
| 1983 | Charge My Account | 4 | Pat Day | Claude R. McGaughey III | Cooper Hartley (Lessee) | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.20 | $29,800 | | |
| Kentucky Cardinal Handicap |||||||||||
| 1982 | Betty Money | 3 | Bernon Sayler | Ronnie G. Warren | Russell Michael Jr. | 1 mile | 1:38.80 | $31,988 | | Division 1 |
| 1982 | Promising Native | 3 | Sam Maple | Ronnie G. Warren | Ronnie G. Warren et al. | 1 mile | 1:39.60 | $31,112 | | Division 2 |
| 1981 | Knights Beauty | 4 | Travis Wayne Hightower | Emmett N. Sylvester | William J. Forster | 7 furlongs | 1:24.80 | $31,950 | | Division 1 |
| 1981 | Safe Play | 3 | Stanley Spencer | Harvey L. Vanier | Carl Lauer & Nancy Vanier | 7 furlongs | 1:24.20 | $29,075 | | Division 2 |
| 1980 | Vite View | 4 | Don Brumfield | Michael B. Ball | Mira Ball | 7 furlongs | 1:24.80 | $28,000 | | Division 1 |
| 1980 | Champagne Ginny | 3 | Don Brumfield | Ray Metcalf | Elkcam Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:24.60 | $27,850 | | Division 2 |
| 1979 | Impetuous Gal (CAN) | 4 | Earlie Fires | Joseph M. Bollero | Edward A. Cox Jr. | 7 furlongs | 1:24.60 | $27,850 | | Division 1 |
| 1979 | Gap Axe | 4 | Don Brumfield | David Kassen | Andrew Adams | 7 furlongs | 1:24.80 | $29,350 | | Division 2 |
| 1978 | Love to Tell | 3 | Eddie Delahoussaye | James E. Morgan | James Crutcher | 7 furlongs | 1:24.40 | $27,512 | | Division 1 |
| 1978 | Unreality | 4 | Lane Suire | Ralph Irwin | Karil Vangeloff | 7 furlongs | 1:24.20 | $27,762 | | Division 2 |
| 1977 | Likely Exchange | 3 | James McKnight | Thomas H. Stevens Sr. | Mrs. Pamela Stark Humphrey | 7 furlongs | 1:24.80 | $22,575 | | Division 1 |
| 1977 | Famed Princess | 4 | Concepcion Ledezma | Harry Trotsek | Mrs. Bobby Russell & Ed Seltzer | 7 furlongs | 1:24.80 | $22,825 | | Division 2 |
| 1976 | Hope of Glory | 4 | Don Brumfield | Ted McClain | Donald McKellar | 7 furlongs | 1:25.00 | $22,563 | | Division 1 |
| 1976 | Vivacious Meg | 4 | Bobby Breen | Doug Dodson | Eagle Mountain Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:25.40 | $22,563 | | Division 2 |
| Kentucky Cardinal Stakes |||||||||||
| 1975 | Visier | 3 | Rene Riera Jr. | Richard J. Fischer | Juliette Combs Trapp | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $26,500 | | 3YO only |
| 1974 | Cut the Talk | 3 | Darrell Brown | James E. Morgan | Albert F. Polk Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $22,075 | | 3YO only |
Legend:
 Dirt  Turf
Notes:
† In the 1996, running Bail Out Becky was first past the post by 2+1⁄2 lengths but was disqualified for interference as the horse turned into the straight bumping the eventual second-place finisher Miss Caerleona. Miss Caerleona was declared the winner and Bail Out Becky placed second.