Rashmi has no trouble with Wilshire Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - A layoff of nearly 13 months was no hindrance to Rashmi in Saturday’s Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Rashmi ($2.80) led throughout the one-mile turf race and was not troubled by four rivals. Rashmi led by as much as a length in the first half-mile, by two lengths with a quarter-mile remaining and won by 2 3/4 lengths.
“She hopped out smooth, her ears were up,” Kimura said. “Some horses like to be fresh and she might be that kind of horse.
“I tried to avoid pressure. When I asked her at the quarter-pole, she picked it up.
“That was an easy ride.”
Rashmi was timed in 1:34.73 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89.
Miss Artois (9-2) closed from fourth to finish second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of 6-1 Antifona. Hannah Buckle finished fourth, followed by Walk’n the Beach.
The $100,000 Wilshire Stakes was Rashmi’s first start since a third-place finish by a neck as the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes on March 1, 2025. She won the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf in February 2025.
Trainer Jonathan Thomas said the 5-year-old Rashmi had a good series of workouts leading to Saturday’s race.
“She’s been training stellar,” Thomas said. “I think she’s training better than anything we have out here.”
Rashmi, by Oscar Performance, has won 5 of 10 starts and $234,736 for owner and breeder George Strawbridge Jr.
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