Bred in Kentucky, but owned and trained by Brazilian horsemen, she showed some promise racing on turf as a juvenile in 2001, winning on her racecourse debut and finishing fifth at Grade III level on her only subsequent start.
Farda Amiga is a bay mare with no white markings bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud Inc. She was sired by Broad Brush who won the Wood Memorial and the Santa Anita Handicap before becoming a highly successful breeding stallion earning the title of Leading sire in North America in 1994: among his other progeny were the Breeders' Cup Classic winner Concern and the Pimlico Special winner Include.
Ridden by Goncalino Almeida, she was not among the leaders in the early stages but moved up on the outside on the turn, took the lead a furlong and drew clear to win by two and a half lengths from the favored Puff the Magic.
[7] On her only other appearance of the season she was moved up in class and started a 24.6/1 outsider for the Grade III Miesque Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack on 23 November.
The filly was blocked as McCarron struggled to obtain a clear run before making rapid ground along the rail, taking the lead in the final stride and winning by a head from Ile de France.
After being outpaced and running last of the nine fillies early on she made steady progress on the outside to finish third behind You, Habibti and Ile de France, two lengths behind the winner.
[10] On May 3, in front of a 101,923 at Churchill Downs Farda Amiga, with McCarron again in the saddle, started a 20/1 outsider in a ten-runner field for the 128th running of the Kentucky Oaks.
The Ashland Stakes winner Take Charge Lady started favorite ahead of You, the Godolphin Racing filly Imperial Gesture and Habibti.
She began to drift to the inside in the stretch, slightly hampering Habibti before McCarron switched his whip to his left hand and sent the filly in pursuit of the leader Take Charge Lady.
"[11] On the morning after the Oaks, Farda Amiga was found to be running a temperature and had an abnormally high white blood cell count.
After a break of over three months, Farda Amiga returned at Saratoga Race Course on August 17 in the Alabama Stakes, in which she was ridden for the first time by Pat Day.
[13] Following another lengthy break, Farda Amiga was matched against older fillies and mares in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, run that year at Arlington Park on October 28.