Atras greenlights Pashmina for Kentucky Oaks
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The well-traveled Pashmina is getting set to make another road trip this spring as she is confirmed to run in the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks on May 1 at Churchill Downs, trainer Rob Atras said Thursday.
Pashmina, a daughter of Constitution, earned her way into the Oaks with a solid second-place finish in the Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes on April 4 at Aqueduct. After setting the pace, Pashmina gave way late to Always a Runner. Pashmina was beaten 1 1/4 lengths while finishing 8 3/4 lengths clear of the rest of the field.
“The horse that beat us is probably going to be a legit contender for the win,” Atras said. “It’s exciting for the owners. I felt like she ran a creditable enough race. She’s obviously not the probable favorite or anything like that, but she showed us the race we were hoping she would show us and that she belonged with some of the top fillies. Hopefully, we’re right and she can run another big race.”
Pashmina, owned by Randy Gullatt and Steve Denison’s Red White and Blue Racing, wintered in New Orleans, where she won a maiden by 10 3/4 lengths at Fair Grounds. She then finished third in the Untapable Stakes and fourth in the Silverbulletday. In February, Atras shipped Pashmina to Sunland Park, where she finished third in the Sunland Oaks in a race where the winner, Bottle of Rouge, cut in front of her in the stretch.
Atras said Ramon Vazquez, who rode Pashmina for the first time in the Gazelle, will retain the mount in the Oaks.
Atras planned to breeze Pashmina on Friday or Saturday and would likely ship her to Churchill Downs on Tuesday with the idea of getting one workout over the track a week before the race.
Always a Runner, the Gazelle winner trained by Chad Brown, was expected to return to the work tab over the weekend at Belmont Park before shipping to Kentucky.
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