Churchill Downs: Lady Radler surprises at 23-1 in Dogwood

Lady Radler, sent off as the longest shot in field of nine3-year-old fillies, emerged with the lead with three-sixteenths of a mile tothe finish and ran away to a 2 3/4-length victory over Metaphysical on Saturdayin the 48th running of the Grade 3, $299,750 Dogwood Stakes, the feature race infront of 12,744 spectators at Churchill Downs for the final night program ofthe year.

Campaigned by Chicago-based trainer Michael Campbell for owner George Mellon’s Mellon Patch, Lady Radler covered seven furlongs in 1:22.71 under jockey Jesús Castañón. Sent off at 23-1, she paid $48.40, $18.44 and $10.44.

LADY RADLER ($48.40) sat in behind the speed and got the jump on the rest in the $300,000 Dogwood Stakes (G3) at @ChurchillDowns. Trained by Michael Campbell with Jesus Castanon up in the saddle. Congrats to the connections! ??

One more tonight bet on the @FDSportsbook! pic.twitter.com/byYo40FN7J

— TVG (@TVG) September 24, 2023

The $178,800 first prize jumped Lady Radler’s earnings to$371,200 from a record of 5-2-1 in 10 starts.

Metaphysical, the 5-2 second betting choice ridden byRicardo Santana Jr., returned $4.24 and $3.02.

“She ran a huge race,” trainer Jeff Hiles said about Metaphysical.“She’s graded-stakes placed after this, and that’s big on her résumé.”

Yesternight, the 5-2 favorite with James Graham up, was 1 3/4lengths back of the runner-up and paid $3.64.

Twice as Sweet, Santa Fe Gold, Alexa Lou, B G Warrior, NorahG and Flamand completed the order of finish.

Breaking from post position No. 5, Lady Radler sat just offearly leaders B G Warrior and Twice as Sweet, who rattled off fractions of 22.26and 45.48 seconds for the first quarter- and half-mile.

Under a snug hold from Castañón up the backstretch and intothe turn, Lady Radler finally was let to run at the top of the stretch, whereshe was tipped outside of Twice as Sweet. She took over in upper stretch anddrew away from a chasing Metaphysical and a closing Yesternight.

“I’ve been on her before, and she’s a really nice horse,” Castañónsaid. “I’ve worked her, and I always thought she would break through in graded-stakescompany. Tonight she did just that, and I’m very proud of her.”

This was the second stakes victory for Lady Radler but her firstagainst graded-stakes company. In May she won the $50,000 Goldfinch at PrairieMeadows.

Lady Radler is a daughter of Kantharos out of the SouthAfrica-bred, London News mare Sally Bowles. She was bred in Kentucky byStonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

The Dogwood is named for the hardy, blooming tree that addsso much beauty to the spring landscape in Kentucky.