Played Hard lives up to expectations in Falls City

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mere seconds after Played Hard had crossed under the wire a winner of the Falls City, her owner, Richard Rigney, let out a series of primal screams. Victory on Thanksgiving Day, it seems, is sweeter than pumpkin pie a la mode.

“This is what it’s all about – the owners’ enjoyment,” said an equally excited Phil Bauer, the private trainer for Rigney and his family. “You win a half-million dollar race on your home track with your family and the greatest owner in attendance.”

The 107th Falls City could not have stayed closer to the script Rigney and Bauer drew up beforehand. Played Hard, ridden by Joel Rosario, broke fastest of all in a field of six fillies and mares, and led all the way Thursday in the Grade 3, $485,000 Falls City, the traditional Thanksgiving feature at Churchill Downs.

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Played Hard, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by the red-hot Into Mischief, returned $2.90 as a heavy favorite after finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.39 over a fast track.

Played Hard went comfortably in splits of 23.71, 47.43, and 1:11.43, first with Leader of the Band giving closest chase, then Bellamore and Moon Swag. Down the stretch, under confident handling from Rosario, Played Hard dug in to keep Bellamore safe by one length. She’s All Wolfe was up for third, another five lengths behind Bellamore, with Moon Swag, Leader of the Band, and Ava’s Grace rounding out the order.

“She fought hard on the lead and didn’t want to give it up,” said Rosario. “There were a couple horses that got close to her but she never gave way.”

This was the second Grade 3 win for Played Hard, now a winner in 5 of 14 starts, with both of them coming at Churchill. A third-place finish in the Grade 1 Spinster last month at Keeneland followed a 5 3/4-length romp in the Grade 3 Locust Grove in September, both of those with Rosario aboard, too.

Bauer will soon depart for Fair Grounds with his best horses while leaving behind a string at the Trackside training center near Churchill. Tentative plans for Played Hard call for a short break before she gears back up for some of the bigger divisional races in the first half of 2023.

Dalika wires Cardinal

The Falls City directly preceded the Grade 3, $268,500 Cardinal, another 1 1/8-mile stakes for fillies and mares, which was run over a turf course rated firm. Dalika also dominated in front-running fashion, pulling away from favored Adventuring and finishing 1 3/4 lengths clear of Perseverancia in a field of nine. Brian Hernandez Jr. was aboard Dalika for his third win on the 12-race card.

“She loves the Churchill turf,” said winning owner Paul Varga, the retired Brown-Forman CEO who has owned Dalika throughout her 31-race career. “She’s already done so much for us. It sure is great to win on Thanksgiving at our home track.”

Dalika, a German-bred 6-year-old, notched her first Grade 1 win here in August by also going wire to wire in the Beverly D. The gray mare now has been first or second in 7 of 8 starts on the Churchill turf, with her share of the Cardinal purse lifting her bankroll to $1,441,586. She was ineligible for the Kentucky-bred bonuses that are part of all Churchill purses.

Dalika returned $5.72 as second choice after finishing in 1:50.61. Adventuring was third and Sunny One was fourth.

Trainer Al Stall Jr. watched from New Orleans, where he already has taken most of his horses for the winter, while his wife, Nicole, and two children took part in winner’s circle ceremonies alongside Varga and his family and friends.

Clark set for Friday

The biggest day of the fall meet is Friday, with the Grade 1, $750,000 Clark as the feature. Rich Strike, the 2022 Kentucky Derby winner, is a 2-1 program favorite for the 148th Clark, which goes at 5:56 p.m. as the 11th of 12 races. The card also includes the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere (race 9). The 19-day fall meet runs through Sunday, with first post for each of the last three cards at 1 p.m.

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