Button Down Secures First Stakes in Cardinal

After finishing second in a pair of stakes this year on the Woodbine turf, including a grade II, Button Down wouldn't be denied Nov. 21 when she seized the lead coming out of the far turn and grinded out a clear victory in the $100,000 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT).

Making her first start at Churchill Downs in the Cardinal, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares, Greenwood Lodge Farm's Button Down launched a wide rally in the far turn under Paco Lopez and the 4-year-old Oasis Dream filly held sway in the lane for a 1 1/2-length victory over longshot runner-up Lady Fog Horn.

Sent off the 2-1 favorite, Button Down completed the 1 1/8 miles on yielding turf in 1:56.19 for her first stakes win. Earlier this year Button Down, who is trained by Josie Carroll, finished second in both the Flaming Page and the Canadian (Can-IIT) stakes on the Woodbine turf. Carroll said Button Down benefits from every race.

"She has just been an amazing filly," Carroll said. "Every time she goes over there, she comes back better."

Button Down and Lopez settled early racing seventh through a quarter-mile and fifth through a half-mile as Invading Humor led the way through fractions of :24.02, :48.85, and six furlongs in 1:14.94, where she would soon give way. Button Down initally launched her winning rally five wide, ending up three wide out of the turn as she surged past the early leader and Annulment.

Lady Fog Horn showed some interest mid-stretch but Button Down maintained her edge to the wire.

"This filly is a really good filly," Lopez said. "We had a little trouble in the first turn. In the second quarter we got in a good position and then she was so relaxed turning for home. This filly tries really hard."

Button Down returned $6.60, $4.40, and $3.60 across the board. She was followed home by 20-1 Lady Fog Horn, who paid $16 to place and $9.80 to show; and 23-1 Lacy, who paid $14 to show.

Bred in England by Juddmonte Farms, Button Down began her career there racing as a homebred for Khalid Abdullah. She failed to win in seven starts in England, running second four times, and was sold after the 2014 season at the Tattersalls December mares sale. Charles Gordon-Watson Bloodstock landed Button Down for $106,736 at the sale, where she was consigned by Juddmonte, for current U.S.-based owners Bill and Carole McAlpin's Greenwood Lodge Farm.

Button Down is the first stakes winner for the stakes-winning Sadler's Wells mare Modesta, who has produced two other stakes-placed runners.