Stonestreet Farm has built a reputation as an operation that regularly campaigns stellar fillies, eventually adding them as jewels in its dazzling broodmare band. Clairiere joined those “Girls in Gold,” as Stonestreet refers to its color-bearing distaffers on its social media feeds, as a homebred to carry Barbara Banke’s silks to Grade 1 victory in 2021, earning her an Eclipse Award finalist slot. Clairiere, by Curlin, is the first foal out of the Bernardini mare Cavorting, whom Stonestreet purchased as a weanling and campaigned to six graded stakes victories, including three Grade 1 wins in New York. Clairiere, placed in the barn of Steve Asmussen, won her debut in October 2020 at Churchill Downs and then was second to Travel Column in the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes the following month in just her second start. The two fillies would become familiar foes as they continued down the path to the Kentucky Oaks. Clairiere won the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes in February at Fair Grounds, with Travel Column second; the rivals reversed those placings in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks. In the Longines Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs, Clairiere was fourth in the field of 13, with Travel Column fifth. Clairiere was beaten less than three lengths by the victorious Malathaat – whom she had grown up alongside at Stonestreet before the farm sold the other filly to Shadwell Stables as a yearling. Clairiere continued to campaign consistently in her division’s major events throughout the summer in New York, finishing third in the Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont; third in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga; and second in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. In the Alabama, she was beaten just 1 1/2 lengths by Malathaat, despite being steadied going into the first turn, not running comfortably behind a modest pace, and then being forced wide into the stretch. Her efforts under adversity made her the favorite for the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes in September at Parx Racing. Reunited with Ricardo Santana Jr., who had ridden her in her 2-year-old campaign, Clairiere finally scored her first top-level victory, circling the field and kicking clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths. :: Full list of 2021 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories “I can’t tell you what it means for Clairiere and Stonestreet and that family that she comes from to have her first Grade 1 win,” Asmussen said. The Cotillion victory earned Clairiere a shot at the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar. She and Santana were floated seven wide into the lane and rallied well into a furious pace, finishing a solid fourth behind Marche Lorraine, Dunbar Road, and Malathaat – beaten less than a length. Clairiere will return to the races in 2022.