Argentine standout Ayra Stark made a major impression in her U.S. stakes debut
- Diego Mitagstein
- 6min
- 2 Min. de lectura
On the Turfway Park synthetic, the daughter of Cosmic Trigger finished second, a half-length behind Speed Shopper in the Florence Stakes
FLORENCE, Kentucky (Special to Turf Diario).- The transition for Argentine-bred runners to the North American circuit often demands time and patience, but when quality is present, results quickly follow. On Saturday night at Turfway Park, Ayra Stark (Cosmic Trigger) delivered a standout performance to finish second in the $125,000 Florence S., a black-type debut that offers plenty of promise for the future.
Contested over a demanding 1 1/4 miles on the Tapeta, the chestnut—who went postward as the wagering favorite—came within inches of crowning her ascent with a victory. After tracking the early splits from a pocketed second, Ayra Stark inherited the lead turning for home and dug in with the trademark grit of an Argentine-bred standout.
However, in the final stages, she faced a stern challenge from Speed Shopper (Quality Road). The winner, a William Walden trainee coming off a heartbreaking head defeat in the GII Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita, required every ounce of her ability to collar the Argentine, who sold her defeat dearly, yielding by just a half-length after a spirited duel.
The clock stopped in 2:03.39 for the 10-furlong test, a time that speaks to the rigor of the race. For Ayra Stark, this runner-up effort in her first North American stakes attempt confirms she belongs in the big leagues, demonstrating a remarkable adaptation to synthetic surfaces—on which she had never previously competed—and classic distances.
Bred by Haras Juan Antonio, the mare was a dual graded stakes winner at Palermo before embarking on her U.S. campaign. The Florence also marked her debut for trainer Horacio De Paz, following the retirement of Ignacio Correas, IV, who previously had her under his care.
While the trophy went to Speed Shopper, the news for the Argentine turf is the high level of form shown by the mare. She now looms as a serious contender in the distaff distance division as the 2026 season approaches.
