Ashado (foaled February 4, 2001 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racemare whose seven Grade I wins included the 2004 Breeders' Cup Distaff.
At the end of the 2005 racing season, her owners sold her at the Keeneland Sales November auction for $9 million, a world-record price for a broodmare/broodmare prospect.
[1] Goulash was a stakes winning Florida-bred mare who later produced two stakes-winning full brothers to Ashado, Sun River and Saint Stephen.
[3] Ashado was sold at the September 2002 Keeneland yearling sale to a partnership that included Jack and Laurie Wolf's Starlight Racing, Johns Martin and Paul Saylor.
After racing off the pace early, she hit the lead in mid-stretch but slowed down and was nearly beaten by late closing La Reina.
"[7] The victory brought her record for 2003 to four wins from six starts, including three Grade I races in which she had a first, a second and a third-place finish (in the Spinaway, Juvenile Filles and Frizette respectively).
[8] Ashado started her three-year-old campaign in March with a win in the Fair Grounds Oaks, then finished second in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland in April to Madcap Escapade.
On a muddy track, she raced in second behind Madcap Escapade, who opened up a large lead while setting a "blazing" pace for the first six furlongs.
[9] On June 26, Ashado finished second in the Mother Goose Stakes to Stellar Jayne, then faced her again in the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24.
"[11] Ashado then won the Cotillion Handicap at Parx Racing as a final prep for the Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Ashado then finished second in the Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff Handicap in May, where she struggled with "the wrong type of track" according to Pletcher.
"[17] She rebounded in the Beldame Stakes at Belmont, moving to the lead turning into the stretch and then holding off a late charge from Happy Ticket to win by half a length.
[18] In the final start of her career, Ashado finished third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, held that year at Belmont Park on October 29.
As it was, Pleasant Home pulled off a 30–1 upset when she won by 9+1⁄4 lengths, with Society Selection edging Ashado by a neck for second place.