Dalika , who brought numerous highlights to Paul Varga of Bal Mar Equine during her racing career, added one last memorable moment for the owner in selling for $1.65 million Nov. 8 during the November Breeding Stock Sale at Keeneland.
A group called Pursuit of Success purchased Dalika, a gray 7-year-old daughter of Pastorius , from the Case Clay Thoroughbred Management consignment.
Bred in Germany by Gestut Ammerland, she initially raced overseas before being brought to America to compete for Varga with Al Stall Jr. as her trainer. She steadily developed, rising from the allowance ranks to become multiple graded stakes winner. Her highlight win came in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) when the race shifted to Churchill Downs in 2022.
Also that year, she won the Cardinal Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T).
She was retired earlier this year after a fourth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.
“She definitely gave us a great day, but it really is hard obviously to let go of a mare like that,” Varga said. “The one great thing is I have her full sister (Drawn to Race), and she’s in foal, so I can still keep the family.”
This year Dalika was bred to unbeaten 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline , who stood his initial season at stud for $200,000 at Lane’s End Farm in Central Kentucky. His fee is $150,000 for 2024.
Archie St. George, a farm owner and consignor who signed on behalf of Pursuit of Success to purchase Dalika, said she was in foal to “an unbelievable stallion.”
“She’s got the quality and looks, and hopefully she can throw something that looks like her,” he added.
Varga praised all those involved with Dalika, noting that she “required a ton of patience”—patience that obviously paid off. She raced 32 times, winning 10 races and $1,465,836.
Stall was on the sales grounds at Keeneland with Varga and slapped hands with Clay after the high-value sale.
As excited as they were, Varga acknowledged, “Honestly, this was great, but it was so much more fun to watch her win on the racetrack.”
