Lashara Scores on Turf for Sire American Pharoah

Cindy Hutson and Robert Masterson's Lashara rallied past the frontrunner April 11 at Gulfstream Park to break her maiden going a mile on the turf against 11 other 3-year-old fillies.

The British-bred daughter of American Pharoah  trained by Mark Casse made her debut March 15 in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Gulfstream's main track, where she finished eighth after chasing the pace early. On Saturday in Gulfstream's fifth race and on a different surface, Lashara got up by three-quarters of a length to stop Champagne Lady from a gate-to-wire victory.

Jockey Luis Saez was back in the irons aboard Lashara, who settled seventh early as Champagne Lady showed the way through fractions of :22.94, :47.15, and 1:10.90. Lashara, the 8-5 favorite, had three lengths to make up on the leader with a quarter-mile to go. She kicked it into gear in the homestretch and was four to five wide down the lane as she shortened the gap and then caught Champagne Lady near the wire.

The final time was 1:35.09 on firm turf.

Champagne Lady held for second by a head, and Take Charge Ro got up for third.

Lashara was bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and Haras de St Pair. She was consigned by Monceaux at the 2018 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, where Deuce Greathouse purchased her for $972,230. In her two starts, Lashara has earned $23,230.

The bay filly is the first foal out of the grade 3-winning Smart Strike mare Marbre Rose, who also has a 2-year-old colt by Frankel and a yearling colt by Dubawi. Marbre Rose is a half sister to stateside stakes winner Gidu and French stakes winner Aviatress. The family includes grade 1 winners Zoftig, Zo Impressive, and Zaftig, as well as multiple graded stakes winner Souper Tapit.