Dalika Determined Winner of Beverly D.

With Churchill Downs scrapping turf racing over the final three weeks of its spring meet and limiting the use of its immature turf course for a special afternoon of summer racing Aug. 13 by canceling two graded stakes races, trainer Al Stall Jr. saw opportunity for his Beverly D. Stakes (G1) prospect Dalika . He admitted to being "actually kind of happy that there was a bit of a question mark on the surface."  

He's even happier now. On Saturday Dalika capitalized on the conditions, facing just four rivals in the $500,000 Beverly D. and turning away Princess Grace  to upset the 1 1/8-mile turf race at 7-1 odds, the highest price in the short field. 

"This was the perfect confluence of events for us to win a grade 1," Stall said.

Watch: Varga, Stall Proud of Beverly D. Upsetter Dalika

Not that it was handed to the 6-year-old mare. Though she enjoyed a favorable trip, initially racing clear on the lead with fractions of :23.14 and :46.44, Princess Grace challenged her on the second turn, as the Dalika hit the six-furlong marker on 1:10.13.

By midstretch, Princess Grace appeared to have the momentum, poking her head in front, but Dalika found more in reserve under Brian Hernandez Jr., battling back to win by a half-length.

She was timed in 1:46.31 over the "good" course, which was laid down with sod last year and first used for racing this spring.  She paid 17.02 for a $2 win wager. (Churchill Downs began penny breakage Saturday, which was initiated in Kentucky this summer at Ellis Park.)

Princess Grace, under Florent Geroux, held second by two lengths over a steady-paced Family Way , who showed.

"We extremely proud of how she ran today," said Princess Grace's trainer, Mike Stidham. "It was the first time going this distance so maybe that had a little to do with the defeat but she still ran a really great race."

The Beverly D., previously run at Arlington International Racecourse along with the Arlington Million (G1T), was moved to Churchill Downs this year. Last year, Arlington's owner, Churchill Downs Inc., opted not to open the racetrack in 2022 and reached an agreement to sell the Arlington property to the Chicago Bears. 

Though the Beverly D. lineup wasn't as deep or as accomplished as in the past, the race still provided grade 1 prestige and an automatic berth in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge program.

If Varga opts to run her in the Breeders' Cup, it won't be without a hefty fee. A German-bred by Pastorius , she was not an original nominee to the Breeders' Cup, and a late nomination would cost $200,000. She was acquired by owner Paul Varga of Bal Mar Equine in a private purchase late in her 2-year-old year.

"This will probably present a heck of a decision for us, but for right now, we'll enjoy this," Varga said.

Saturday, he was content to revel in her achievement after she previously coming up short on top-tier stakes. A grade 3 winner last summer and with black type from six furlongs to 1 1/2 miles, had come close once to earning a stakes-placing in top-level stakes company when fourth in the 2020 First Lady Stakes Presented by UK Healthcare (G1T) at Keeneland. Most recently was a distant fifth in the July 16 Diana Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course.

"She brought her back as a 6-year-old this year to try to get her grade 1 placed. We probably didn't dream we'd win a grade 1," Varda said. "Today kind of set up for her—a shorter field, the rail was out, she's a speedy horse, and as you can see, she fights. She came back and won that. It was really a crowning accomplishment in the career she's had."

Hernandez, who rode Dalika for the first time, said he guided the headstrong Dalika as jockey Miguel Mena so often did when he was aboard her in 2020-21. Mena died last year in Louisville, Ky., after he was struck in a pedestrian/automobile accident.

"That was my plan today—go out there and ride her like Miguel would have. And it's an honor for her to show up like she did," he said. "She ran a gritty race."

Disappointing in the Beverly D. were Irish shipper and Aidan O'Brien trainee Lily Pond , who ran fourth, and group 1 winner and favorite Rougir , who came under an early drive on the second turn and finished last for six-time Beverly D.-winning trainer Chad Brown.

The five runners left noticeable wear in the Churchill Downs lawn.

"On the gallop-out and looking at it now, it's got plenty of potholes in it, that's for sure," Hernandez said.

Bred in Gestut Ammerland, Dalika is the lone stakes winner among five winners from seven foals produced by the Hurricane Run  mare Drawn To Run (IRE). Her unraced foals are a 2-year-old filly by Iquitos  named Drawn To Dream and a yearling colt by Waldgeist .

Varga said 2022 would be Dalika's final year of racing before she joins his broodmare band next year.

Video: Beverly D. S. (G1T)