(March 6, 2004) - Ashado returned from a three month layoff to take the 1 1/16 miles Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) at Fair Grounds Race Course Saturday. Ashado had not raced since taking the November 29 Demoiselle (GII) at Aqueduct, but had been training steadily in Florida for Todd Pletcher.

Ashado was making her fifth consecutive start at a different track and with a different rider each time, but the constant travel does not seem to bother the three-year-old filly, as she has not finished worse than third in that time.

Today, she broke very keenly, wanting to go to the lead, but was restrained under a stout hold by jockey Cornelio Velasquez. Quick Temper took over the lead, with Victory U.S.A. just to her outside. The field went down the backstretch in single file, with Ashado settling behind the two leaders while kept three wide off the rail. The field began to tighten around the far turn, with Victory U.S.A. and Ashado moving up with Quick Temper. Ashado took a short lead at the head of the stretch, while still well off the rail. She was kept to the task by her rider through the long Fair Grounds homestretch, finishing 3 3/4 lengths in front of Victory U.S.A. The latter, also making her first start of the year, held on gamely for second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Shadow Cast. Steady Course, Quick Temper, and Bending Strings completed the order of finish.

The Oaks was Ashado's fourth stakes win. She also finished second to Halfbridled in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She earned $180,000 for owners Starlight Stable, LLC, Paul Saylor, and John Martin. With the win, her lifetime record stands at 5-1-1 from seven starts. Trainer Todd Pletcher will try to sweep the Fair Grounds weekend stakes, as he sends out Pollard's Vision and Shaniko in the Louisiana Derby (GII) Sunday.

As the 6-5 favorite, Ashado paid $4.20, $2.60, and $2.20. Victory U.S.A. paid $3.40 and $2.40. Shadow Cast paid $2.40 to show. The $2 exacta was worth $13.20.

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