A star in her own individuality, Ashado made her presence known on the racetrack through an impressive career that has been consistently top-of-the-line. The achievements of Ashado were recognized in a record $9 million bid that she received in the auction for broodmare prospects during November 2005.

Ashado was a daughter of Saint Ballado and Halo was sold as a yearling in the Keeneland October 2002 sale at $170,000. Wolf’s Starlight Stable, Paul Saylor and Johns Martin owned her.

Debut

Ashado was purchased at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale at $170,000. The odds were that it would be a quick payoff as she was already winning her three previous starts. The result was a career which was consistently top-quality that won her the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly as well as the champion female of older age.

The Breeders’ Cup Distaff was as well won by Pletcher that confirmed her status as the top filly in America. Pletcher was the winner of the Breeders’ Cup for the first time, in addition to the first win for Starlight Racing, Paul Saylor, Wolfs and John Martin.

The mare was the winner of twelve of her 21 races and won seven Grade 1 races, and ended her career with the sum of $3,931,440 in her bank. She was named champion older mare in 2004 and the year 2005. The National Museum of Racing announced on April 25 the 25th of April, 2014, that Ashado & Curlin was selected by a panel of experts as the two contemporary horsemen to be admitted into the museum’s Hall of Fame.

Stakes Gets Winners

Ashado was the first horse in twenty years to win back-to-back Eclipse Awards for champion 3-year-old filly and champion older female. Ashado was also among the horses with the highest level of consistency and produced 12 winners, including seven stakes in Grade 1.

There were only two times she finished less than third and she won both with dry and wet conditions. Ashado is a durable, elegant racer who has been a confident, kind and skilled runner.

in 2004, she was her Kentucky Oaks winner and Coaching Club American Oaks champion. Her status as”the “queen of distaff racers” was ascribed to her. She was her favorite to win the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

She won Starlight Stables and trainer Todd Pletcher their first Kentucky Oaks victory, and was Pletcher’s first Breeders’ Cup winner also. Ashado was accepted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2014.

Stakes and stakes placements

Ashado who was managed under Todd Pletcher, was a two-time Eclipse Award winner who won 12 out of 21 runs, and came in worse than 3rd only once. Her three Grade 1 wins included the Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff, aswell having a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Ashado’s racing record has been one of continuous excellence and led to her being considered a finalist for the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. Ashado was born to Aaron And Marie Jones, whose stable has been a major stakes winner like Housebuster, Invasor and Lure.

A granddaughter of Saint Ballado and her late stallion Taylor Made, Ashado was purchased at the request of Wolf’s Starlight Stable (Laurie and Jack Wolf) as well as Paul Saylor and Johns Martin for $170,000 as a yearling. After that the mare was sold at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Auction for the record amount of $9 million Darley Stud as a broodmare prospective.

Breeders’ Cup

She took home the Eclipse Award and was the first filly ever to take home the Kentucky Oaks as well as the Breeders Cup Distaff. The filly also had three stakes victories in graded stakes as 2 years old and won the title of the champion female of older age.

Ashado was taught by Todd Pletcher, Paul Saylor and John Martin for Starlight Stable owners (Laurie Wolf and Jack Wolf), and won the Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club American Oaks as well as Fair Grounds Oaks and Cotillion Handicap. Ashado was an extremely strong and determined athlete who handled slippery and fast surfaces with ease However, she had a difficult time with sticky going.

In 2003 she made her first trip to the Breeders’ Cup, placing second to then undefeated Halfbridled at Santa Anita Park’s Juvenile Fillies. She finished the year with the most impressive nose win at the 1 1/8 mile, grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes held at Aqueduct.