Ajina (USA)
April 13, 1994 – c. 2015
Strawberry Road (AUS) x Winglet (USA), by Alydar (USA)
Family 13-c
April 13, 1994 – c. 2015
Strawberry Road (AUS) x Winglet (USA), by Alydar (USA)
Family 13-c
After coming to hand late in her juvenile season, Ajina was expected to be a standout 3-year-old filly. She was, but not before putting substantial gray in trainer Bill Mott’s hair as he tried to figure out what was going on through a string of four lackluster defeats. The filly finally returned to top form in the Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1) at Belmont in June and was first or second in all her remaining races of the season, ending up with three Grade 1 wins and an Eclipse Award. She tailed off again at 4, winning only one Grade 3 race that year, and was only moderately successful as a broodmare.
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 3 seconds, 5 thirds, US$1,327,915
1996:
1997:
1998:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1997)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 1996, 6 pounds below champion Storm Song but tied for third overall.
As an individual
A bay mare, Ajina had a well-laid shoulder. She generally preferred to run on or near the pace in her races.
As a producer:
Ajina produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and five won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Ajina was bred and owned by Allen Paulson. She was trained by Bill Mott. After the birth of her first foal and Paulson’s death in 2000, she was purchased privately for an undisclosed price in March 2001 by Janice and Robert McNair’s Stonerside Stable. She bred her next five foals for Stonerside before again changing owners. This time, the buyer was Darley, which retained the mare for the rest of her producing career. Her last foal, a 2015 colt by Elusive Quality, did not live to be named.
Pedigree notes
Ajina is inbred 5x5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, also a champion sire on the English/Irish list. She is also inbred 5x5 to the important American sire Alibhai. She is a full sister to Kobla, dam of four-time Grade 1 winner Quality Road (by Elusive Quality) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Bitumen. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Rob’s Spirit (by Theatrical) and to Zori (by A.P. Indy), dam of 2020 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Zulu Alpha (by Street Cry) and stakes winner Bank the Eight (by Distorted Humor).
Ajina and her siblings were produced from 1991 Princess Stakes (USA-G2) winner Winglet (by Alydar), a half sister to Irish Group 3 winners Dance Bid and Northern Plain (both by Northern Dancer). Winglet is also a half sister to stakes-placed Wasnah (by Nijinsky II), dam of multiple Group 1 winner Bahri (by Riverman) and English Group 2 winner Bahhare (by Woodman), second dam of four stakes winners, and third dam of Group 3 winners Khusoosy, Matera Sky, Muthabara, Raseed, and Rawaaq. In addition, Winglet is a half sister to Zepa (by Theatrical), dam of Grade 2 winner Nothing but Fun (by Dixie Union).
Winglet is out of 1974 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Highest Trump (by Bold Bidder), who is a half sister to the stakes-winning colt Hurry Up Dear (by Dark Star) and to 1967 Santa Barbara Handicap winner April Dawn (by Gallant Man), dam of stakes winner Sharm a Sheikh (by New Policy) and second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Profit Key and Grade 3 winner Vinnie the Viper. Highest Trump is also a half sister to My Dear Joan (by Quadrangle), dam of multiple stakes winner Royal and Majestic (by Majestic Prince); to Ninita Refinada (by Mongo), dam of the minor stakes winners Eye’s Refined (by Eye of the Morn) and Gyoko San (by Golden Eagle); and to Mademoiselle Molly (by Nashua), dam of restricted stakes winner Jamine (by Monteverdi). The next dam in the tail-female line, Dear April (by My Babu), is an unraced daughter of Querida (by Alibhai), whose dam Durazna (by Bull Lea) was the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1943 and a daughter of the champion and notable foundation mare Myrtlewood.
Books and media
Last updated: September 27, 2023
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 3 seconds, 5 thirds, US$1,327,915
1996:
- Won Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2. 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Tempted Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1997:
- Won Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Acorn Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Fantasy Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Oaklawn)
1998:
- Won Pimlico Distaff Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Pimlico)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1997)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 1996, 6 pounds below champion Storm Song but tied for third overall.
As an individual
A bay mare, Ajina had a well-laid shoulder. She generally preferred to run on or near the pace in her races.
As a producer:
Ajina produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and five won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Manchurian (2000, by Deputy Minister) won the Stymie Handicap as a 6-year-old. He suffered a fatal breakdown in March of that year.
- Jinni (2003, by A.P. Indy) was listed stakes-placed. She produced listed stakes winner North Slope (by Elusive Quality).
- Ruth E. (2006, by A.P. Indy) won one of her 12 races. She produced juvenile stakes winner Ruthless Quality (by Elusive Quality).
- Al Andaleeb (2009, by Bernardini) placed twice from six starts. She is the dam of Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Emboldened (by Elusive Quality).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Ajina was bred and owned by Allen Paulson. She was trained by Bill Mott. After the birth of her first foal and Paulson’s death in 2000, she was purchased privately for an undisclosed price in March 2001 by Janice and Robert McNair’s Stonerside Stable. She bred her next five foals for Stonerside before again changing owners. This time, the buyer was Darley, which retained the mare for the rest of her producing career. Her last foal, a 2015 colt by Elusive Quality, did not live to be named.
Pedigree notes
Ajina is inbred 5x5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, also a champion sire on the English/Irish list. She is also inbred 5x5 to the important American sire Alibhai. She is a full sister to Kobla, dam of four-time Grade 1 winner Quality Road (by Elusive Quality) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Bitumen. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Rob’s Spirit (by Theatrical) and to Zori (by A.P. Indy), dam of 2020 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Zulu Alpha (by Street Cry) and stakes winner Bank the Eight (by Distorted Humor).
Ajina and her siblings were produced from 1991 Princess Stakes (USA-G2) winner Winglet (by Alydar), a half sister to Irish Group 3 winners Dance Bid and Northern Plain (both by Northern Dancer). Winglet is also a half sister to stakes-placed Wasnah (by Nijinsky II), dam of multiple Group 1 winner Bahri (by Riverman) and English Group 2 winner Bahhare (by Woodman), second dam of four stakes winners, and third dam of Group 3 winners Khusoosy, Matera Sky, Muthabara, Raseed, and Rawaaq. In addition, Winglet is a half sister to Zepa (by Theatrical), dam of Grade 2 winner Nothing but Fun (by Dixie Union).
Winglet is out of 1974 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Highest Trump (by Bold Bidder), who is a half sister to the stakes-winning colt Hurry Up Dear (by Dark Star) and to 1967 Santa Barbara Handicap winner April Dawn (by Gallant Man), dam of stakes winner Sharm a Sheikh (by New Policy) and second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Profit Key and Grade 3 winner Vinnie the Viper. Highest Trump is also a half sister to My Dear Joan (by Quadrangle), dam of multiple stakes winner Royal and Majestic (by Majestic Prince); to Ninita Refinada (by Mongo), dam of the minor stakes winners Eye’s Refined (by Eye of the Morn) and Gyoko San (by Golden Eagle); and to Mademoiselle Molly (by Nashua), dam of restricted stakes winner Jamine (by Monteverdi). The next dam in the tail-female line, Dear April (by My Babu), is an unraced daughter of Querida (by Alibhai), whose dam Durazna (by Bull Lea) was the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1943 and a daughter of the champion and notable foundation mare Myrtlewood.
Books and media
- Ajina is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter’s American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Footage of Ajina’s 1997 Breeders’ Cup Distaff win can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3ZMs-JrIok.
Last updated: September 27, 2023