ARCADIA, Calif. - Last September, Rashmi won a $40,000 claimer for maidens at a mile on turf at Woodbine when ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Dettori and Rashmi were reunited for the first time since that win in Saturday’s Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita. This time, Rashmi produced a far more impressive result.
Rashmi stalked pacesetter Omaha Girl to the top of the stretch before winning the $101,000 Megahertz for her first stakes win.
Dettori said Rashmi on Saturday was far different than Rashmi last September.
“I rode her at Woodbine and she was half the filly she is now,” Dettori said. “She’s strengthened up so much.”
Sent off favored in a field of seven in the Megahertz, Rashmi ($5.80) won by 2 1/2 lengths, finishing in 1:34.19. Rashmi earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 90. Dettori said Rashmi gave him a confident feeling on the turn before he urged her to the front.
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“I was waiting,” Dettori said.
Mahina (7-2) closed from fifth to finish second, a half-length in front of 5-1 Liguria. Sareeha finished fourth, followed by Omaha Girl, Big Hug and Mucho Macho Girl.
Rashmi, who races for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable and trainer Jonathan Thomas, won for the fourth time in her eighth start in the Megahertz.
A 4-year-old filly by Oscar Performance, Rashmi was the easy winner of two starter allowance races at a mile on turf in a nine-day span at Del Mar in November, before finishing fourth by six lengths in the Grade 1 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 in her stakes debut.
Thomas said earlier this week that Rashmi was too far back in the American Oaks. She closed from last of 11 to finish six lengths behind She Feels Pretty.
On Saturday, a stalking trip by Dettori led to a different result. Thomas was left impressed by Dettori’s effort.
“He gave her a great trip,” Thomas said. “You expect that from him.”
The win was worth $60,000. Rashmi has earned $150,736.
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