Ashado (USA)
February 4, 2001 – Living
Saint Ballado (USA) x Goulash (USA), by Mari’s Book (USA)
Family 1-l
February 4, 2001 – Living
Saint Ballado (USA) x Goulash (USA), by Mari’s Book (USA)
Family 1-l
Born from the penultimate crop of Saint Ballado, Ashado both underscored the loss of her sire and helped lift him to a posthumous American sire championship with her feats on the racetrack. A champion at 3 and 4, she has not been able to duplicate her racetrack form in the breeding shed.
Race record
21 starts, 12 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, US$3,931,440
2003:
2004:
2005:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2003, 4 pounds below champion Halfbridled but second overall.
Received a peak rating of 117 pounds on the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 13 pounds below overall highweight Ghostzapper and 3 pounds below the top filly or mare, Ouija Board, but best among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
Received a peak rating of 117 pounds on the 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 13 pounds below overall highweight Hurricane Run and 5 pounds below the top-rated distaffer, Divine Proportions.
As an individual
A big, strong dark bay or brown mare described as a “bruiser of a filly” by Evan Hammonds of The Blood-Horse, Ashado was an unenthusiastic work horse and tended to loaf if she found herself alone on the lead. Nonetheless, she was a dominant and determined runner who had no compunctions about shouldering rivals aside if need be. She handled both fast and sloppy surfaces well but was less effective over sticky going. She was professional in her demeanor while racing and was kind although not particularly sociable as a broodmare. Like her sire, she is slightly back at the knee. She has generally passed on her strong build and sensible but independent nature to her foals.
As a producer
As of December 29, 2022, Ashado has produced 11 named foals of racing age, of which nine have started and seven have won. Her only foal to achieve any note thus far is her 2014 Bernardini gelding Westwood, winner of the listed Runhappy Stakes as a 4-year-old.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Ashado was bred by Aaron and Marie Jones. A $170,000 yearling from the 2002 Keeneland September sale, Ashadp was owned by Starlight Stable (Laurie and Jack Wolf), Paul Saylor, and Johns Martin. She was trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club American Oaks scores by John Velazquez. Following her racing career, she was sold to Darley Stud at the 2005 Keeneland November sale for a record $9 million as a broodmare prospect. She was pensioned from broodmare duty at Gainsborough Farm following the 2022 breeding season.
Pedigree notes
Ashado is inbred 3x5 to 1974 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Cosmah and 4x5x6 to Cosmah’s stakes-winning dam Almahmoud. She is a full sister to 2007 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sunriver and to 2006 Native Diver Handicap (USA-G3) winner Saint Stephen. She is also a full sister to stakes-placed Ballado’s Halo, whose granddaughter Inflexibility won the 2017 Wonder Where Stakes (CAN-R), the third leg of Canada’s Triple Tiara series for 3-year-old fillies. Balldo's Halo is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Simplification.
Ashado and her siblings are out of Grade 3-placed restricted stakes winner Goulash, who died of complications of laminitis in 2009. Sired by the stakes-placed Northern Dancer horse Mari’s Book, Goulash is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Quite a Bride (by Stormy Atlantic), dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Doña Flor (by Dynaformer) and Brazilian Group 3 winner Amor Total (by Put It Back).
Goulash and Quite a Bride are out of the Blushing Groom mare Wise Bride, a half sister to Grade 3 winner Wised Up (by Dixieland Band) and to restricted stakes winner Smart Wise (by Silver Hawk). The next dam in the tail-female lineage is Grade 3 winner Wising Up, whose half sister Foresta (by Alydar) won three Grade 2 races and is the granddam of Victory U.S.A., a Grade 2 winner. Produced from the Rock Talk mare Hardly, Wising Up is also a half sister to So Easily (by Superbity), dam of juvenile Grade 2 winner Lunar Bounty (by Migrating Moon), and to Secret Holdings (by Private Account), second dam of four stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Sindy With an S.
Books and media
Footage of Ashado’s win in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Distaff can be accessed in Bob Ehalt's article "Ashado: A Hall of Fame Career of Consistent Excellence," published March 16, 2021, at America's Best Racing (https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2021-ashado-hall-fame-career-consistent-excellence).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 20, 2024
Race record
21 starts, 12 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, US$3,931,440
2003:
- Won Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
- Won Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Schuylerville Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Frizette Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
2004:
- Won Breeders' Cup Distaff Presented by Nextel (USA-G1, 9FD, Lone Star; new track record 1:48.26)
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Fair Grounds Oaks (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Cotillion Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Philadelphia Park)
- 2nd Ashland Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
2005:
- Won Ogden Phipps Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Go for Wand Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2014)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2004)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older female (2005)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2003, 4 pounds below champion Halfbridled but second overall.
Received a peak rating of 117 pounds on the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 13 pounds below overall highweight Ghostzapper and 3 pounds below the top filly or mare, Ouija Board, but best among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
Received a peak rating of 117 pounds on the 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 13 pounds below overall highweight Hurricane Run and 5 pounds below the top-rated distaffer, Divine Proportions.
As an individual
A big, strong dark bay or brown mare described as a “bruiser of a filly” by Evan Hammonds of The Blood-Horse, Ashado was an unenthusiastic work horse and tended to loaf if she found herself alone on the lead. Nonetheless, she was a dominant and determined runner who had no compunctions about shouldering rivals aside if need be. She handled both fast and sloppy surfaces well but was less effective over sticky going. She was professional in her demeanor while racing and was kind although not particularly sociable as a broodmare. Like her sire, she is slightly back at the knee. She has generally passed on her strong build and sensible but independent nature to her foals.
As a producer
As of December 29, 2022, Ashado has produced 11 named foals of racing age, of which nine have started and seven have won. Her only foal to achieve any note thus far is her 2014 Bernardini gelding Westwood, winner of the listed Runhappy Stakes as a 4-year-old.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Ashado was bred by Aaron and Marie Jones. A $170,000 yearling from the 2002 Keeneland September sale, Ashadp was owned by Starlight Stable (Laurie and Jack Wolf), Paul Saylor, and Johns Martin. She was trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club American Oaks scores by John Velazquez. Following her racing career, she was sold to Darley Stud at the 2005 Keeneland November sale for a record $9 million as a broodmare prospect. She was pensioned from broodmare duty at Gainsborough Farm following the 2022 breeding season.
Pedigree notes
Ashado is inbred 3x5 to 1974 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Cosmah and 4x5x6 to Cosmah’s stakes-winning dam Almahmoud. She is a full sister to 2007 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sunriver and to 2006 Native Diver Handicap (USA-G3) winner Saint Stephen. She is also a full sister to stakes-placed Ballado’s Halo, whose granddaughter Inflexibility won the 2017 Wonder Where Stakes (CAN-R), the third leg of Canada’s Triple Tiara series for 3-year-old fillies. Balldo's Halo is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Simplification.
Ashado and her siblings are out of Grade 3-placed restricted stakes winner Goulash, who died of complications of laminitis in 2009. Sired by the stakes-placed Northern Dancer horse Mari’s Book, Goulash is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Quite a Bride (by Stormy Atlantic), dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Doña Flor (by Dynaformer) and Brazilian Group 3 winner Amor Total (by Put It Back).
Goulash and Quite a Bride are out of the Blushing Groom mare Wise Bride, a half sister to Grade 3 winner Wised Up (by Dixieland Band) and to restricted stakes winner Smart Wise (by Silver Hawk). The next dam in the tail-female lineage is Grade 3 winner Wising Up, whose half sister Foresta (by Alydar) won three Grade 2 races and is the granddam of Victory U.S.A., a Grade 2 winner. Produced from the Rock Talk mare Hardly, Wising Up is also a half sister to So Easily (by Superbity), dam of juvenile Grade 2 winner Lunar Bounty (by Migrating Moon), and to Secret Holdings (by Private Account), second dam of four stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Sindy With an S.
Books and media
Footage of Ashado’s win in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Distaff can be accessed in Bob Ehalt's article "Ashado: A Hall of Fame Career of Consistent Excellence," published March 16, 2021, at America's Best Racing (https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2021-ashado-hall-fame-career-consistent-excellence).
Fun facts
- Ashado’s edition of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff was the first Grade 1 race ever run at Lone Star Park.
- Ashado was the first filly to win the Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in the same year.
- Ashado was the 11th filly to complete the Kentucky Oaks/Coaching Club American Oaks double, a feat previously accomplished by Princess Doreen (1924), Wistful (1949), How (1951), Real Delight (1952), Dark Mirage (1968), Davona Dale (1979), Bold 'n Determined (1980), Goodbye Halo (1988), Open Mind (1989), and Lite Light (1991). Since Ashado, Princess of Sylmar (2013) and Abel Tasman (2017) have completed the double.
- Ashado’s Eclipse Award at age 4 made her the first filly in 20 years to earn back-to-back championships in the 3-year-old filly and older female divisions. The last to precede her was Life’s Magic, who won Eclipse Awards in those categories in 1984 and 1985.
- When Ashado was sold at the 2005 Keeneland November sale, a portion of her record sale price was donated to the Thoroughbred Charities of America by Starlight Stable owners Laurie and Jack Wolf.
Last updated: August 20, 2024