Broodmare days of Godolphin's $9m Ashado come to end as 11th foal wins on debut

A simple victory in a modest maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs on Wednesday meant more than first meets the eye.

The winner, a two-year-old Frosted filly named Froshado, is the 11th foal out of champion Ashado, whose broodmare days have come to an end at age 21.

Michael Banahan, bloodstock director for Godolphin USA, shared the news on Wednesday evening while reflecting upon the narrow debut victory of Froshado, who emerged victorious by a neck in a $25,700 event over six furlongs at the Florida track.

"Ashado might have a nice filly to finish up her broodmare career with," he said.

"She's scheduled to be retired and won't be bred in the coming year. She's at Gainsborough and she's lived there for many years now. She's got a fan club that keeps coming out to visit her every year; that's where she'll live out her years."

Froshado, a grey or roan filly trained by Eoin Harty, had already developed a bit of a following as Ashado's 2020 foal. She was produced during the mare's participation in Foal Patrol, an initiative of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame designed to give viewers rare insight into the lives of mares during their pregnancies, including the births and early weeks of their foals' lives.

Despite her more public journey into this world, Froshado's Wednesday trip to the winner's circle came as a bit of a surprise as she was sent off as the second-longest shot on the board at odds of 16-1 in a field of eight.

After hopping at the start from post four under Laureano Sosa, Froshado quickly recovered to track front-runner Broken Hearts Bay on the outside up the backstretch, then made her move around the turn for home. Broken Hearts Bay proved a stubborn rival, but Sosa coaxed more from his mount in the final strides and the filly emerged victorious.

"I didn't expect her to win simply because my stats with first-time starters are so deplorable," joked Harty. "She'd shown plenty of speed in the morning and the fact she did win didn't surprise me at all.

"She's a very temperamental filly, a very quirky filly, and it's been a challenge to train her, but when she does work she's shown plenty of talent."

Harty gave credit to groom Roni Mansilla, exercise rider Jeanna Nicosia and assistant trainer Janelle Campbell for the filly's progress.

"She didn't come in until late in the year, in September," he said. "David Scanlon had her and he mentioned she was a little temperamental, which may be why she didn't come in until later.

"I've got a string down at Tampa and she's happy there. I've got an excellent groom with her, a very quiet gentleman. He seems to put these horses to sleep and he's probably 90 per cent behind this win.

"I've also got a world-class exercise rider in Jeanna and a top assistant in Janelle. They've got the patience of Job in dealing with her and I just mark the charts."

Banahan said his team was happy to see Froshado's debut result in a win.

Godolphin USA's Michael Banahan: 'We're delighted that she won and delighted as well for Frosted'Credit: Keeneland photo

"The jockey had strict instructions not to go to the whip unless it was absolutely necessary, and he did well with that," he said. "When he did urge her, she responded well and did it nicely. We're delighted that she won and delighted as well for Frosted."

Frosted, by Tapit, stands at Darley near Lexington, where his advertised fee for 2023 is $10,000.

Froshado is the ninth starter and seventh winner out of Ashado, the champion three-year-old filly of 2004 and champion older mare of 2005. The mare's most accomplished runner to date is the 2014 Bernardini gelding Westwood, who won the 2018 Runhappy Stakes going six furlongs on the main track at Belmont Park and earned $250,050 in a nine-race career for Godolphin.

John Ferguson signed the $9 million ticket for Ashado on behalf of Godolphin at the 2005 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where she was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. Starlight Racing and Todd Pletcher campaigned the daughter of Saint Ballado to a 12-4-3 record from 21 starts with earnings of $3.9m, including victories in the 2004 Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Ashado produced a full-sister to Froshado in 2021 who is currently being broken in Kentucky at Golden Vale Farm, and dropped a Bernardini colt this year.

"Ashado has always done well with that A.P. Indy line, that was the impetus to go to Frosted, and this two-year-old was particularly attractive so we went back again as well," said Banahan. "The Bernardini weanling about to turn yearling is quite a nice horse and that will be her last foal."

Harty said Froshado will remain at Tampa Bay Downs and target a logical progression through her conditions.

Asked if he saw promise in her Wednesday win, he was optimistic, as all trainers must be.

"Who wouldn't, when you consider that pedigree?" he said. "I think if I keep her mentally grounded, I see certainly bigger and better things in her future."

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