Star Fortress (IRE) dominated Thursday's 48th running of the $267,500 Cardinal (G3) on Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs with a 10-length last-to-first romp over favored Saffron Moon.
Star Fortress, a 4-year-old Sea The Star filly owned by John D. Gunther and his daughter Tanya Gunther's Eurowest Bloodstock Services, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:51:10 on turf rated as good to collect the first stakes win of her career in her first United States start.
Luis Saez rode the winner for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
Breaking from post 2 in the field of six fillies and mares, Star Fortress settled in last during the early stages as Walkathon set fractions of :23.35, :48.61 and 1:13.90. Full of run while leaving the final turn, Saez tipped Star Fortress out to the center of the track and the filly displayed an explosive late kick to collar Saffron Moon and a tiring Walkathon with a furlong to run. Her winning margin only widened inside the final stages of the race.
“The plan worked out how we drew it up,” Saez said. “We let the speed go and saved ground. Around the turn we swung out and just really exploded down the stretch.”
The triumph was worth $153,450 and increased her earnings to $175,775. Star Fortress boasts a record of 2-1-2 from eight starts.
Star Fortress returned $14.68 for the win as the 6-1 fifth betting choice.
Saffron Moon, the 9-5 favorite, outfinished Lovely Princess by a neck for second.
The order of finish was completed by Juncture (GB), Walkathon and Joyful Applause. Take a Stand was scratched.
Prior to the Cardinal, Star Fortress finished third in a weight-for-age event going 1½ miles at Newmarket in July. Her lone win from seven starts in England came in her second outing over Chelmsford City's all-weather track at 1¼ miles on July, 3 2022.
“She was training very well coming into this race and she won very impressively today,” DeVaux said. “We're not sure where we'll go next with her. Our plan was to get her to this race and focused on that.”
Gray filly Star Fortress is out of the El Prado (IRE) mare Lady Aquitaine and was bred in Ireland by Sahara Group/Eurowest/Sunderland Hldgs. Tanya Gunther bought her as a weanling for $176,234 at the 2019 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, where Newsells Park Stud consigned her.
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