Rashmi Returns From Layoff And Goes Gate-To-Wire For Second Graded Stakes Victory In The Grade III Wilshire Stakes For Older Fillies And Mares Going One Mile On Turf At Santa Anita

SECOND GRADED STAKES VICTORY IN THE GRADE III WILSHIRE STAKES FOR OLDER FILLIES AND MARES GOING ONE MILE ON TURF AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (March 28, 2026)—Making her first start in almost 13 months, Rashmi returned Saturday at Santa Anita with a dominant gate-to-wire victory in the Grade III, $100,000 Wilshire Stakes for older fillies and mares going one mile on turf.

Sent off a heavy 2-5 favorite, Rashmi went to the front under Kazushi Kimura and set fractions of 23.53, 47.73 and 1:11.36 for six furlongs while being tracked by second-choice Hannah Buckle (9-2). On the second turn, Rashmi pulled away from Hannah Buckle under her own accord. Then when asked by Kimura for her best past the quarter pole, Rashmi responded and was never challenged on her way to a 2 ¾-length victory. Miss Artois (9-2), ridden by Juan Hernandez, was a well-beaten second with Anitfona (6-1) another 1 ¾ lengths back in third.

“Everything was smooth,” said Kimura, who was riding Rashmi for the first time. “She hopped out smooth, her ears were up. 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 nice and smooth. That was an easy ride.”

A 5-year-old mare by Oscar Performance, Rashmi is trained by Jonathan Thomas for owner-breeder Augustin Stable. She won in a time of 1:34.73 to earn her second graded stakes victory. Last year, she won the GIII Megahertz at Santa Anita.

For Thomas, this was his fourth stakes win at the Classic Meet, which ranks third among trainers. From the winner’s circle, he heaped high praise on Rashmi given he has a barn laced with stakes-quality runners.

“She’d been training stellar. I think she’s been training better than everything we have out here right now,” Thomas said. “If she didn’t win, we were going to be a little disappointed.” Next up for Rashmi is likely a try in the Grade I Gamely going 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 25 at Santa Anita.

“I think she is of that ilk,” Thomas said. “There are some good fillies here, but I think she will step up off this race. Hopefully we can continue going in that direction.”

Rashmi paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Miss Artois, trained by Richard Baltas, returned $3.00 and $2.20. Antifona, ridden by Tiago Pereira for trainer Vladimir Cerin, paid $3.00.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m.

GRADE III, WILSHIRE STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

KAZUSHI KIMURA, RASHMI, WINNER: “Everything was smooth. She hopped out smooth, her ears were up. 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 nice and smooth. That was an easy ride.”

TRAINER QUOTES

JONATHAN THOMAS, RASHMI, WINNER: “She’d been training stellar. I think she’s been training better than everything we have out here right now. If she didn’t win we were going to be a little disappointed. When you have been doing so well and drawing the one hole there is no point in making it complicated. “Gamely. I think she is of that ilk. There are some good fillies here, but I think she will step up off of this race and hopefully we can continue going in that direction.”

NOTES: The winning owner and breeder is George Strawbridge, Jr., Augustin Stables.