Patrona Margarita, last year’s Texas Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, is among the seven 3-year-olds entered in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland Race Course.
Bred and owned by Craig Upham, the daughter of Special Rate enters with a record of 5-2-0-1 and earnings of $158,253. She debuted with a victory last June at Churchill Downs and later returned to her home state to run third in the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at Lone Star Park. She then completed her 2-year-old campaign with an upset victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill.
Trained by Bret Calhoun, Patrona Margarita finished fourth last time out in her 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2, $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds.
Patrona Margarita, who is out of Naevus mare Margarita Mistress, is a half sister to two-time Texas Horse of the Year and millionaire Texas Chrome, who is by Grasshopper.
Post time for the Ashland is scheduled for approximately 4:45 p.m. Central.