Ayra Stark Returns to the Spotlight, Looms as Leading Player in the Florence Stakes

The Argentine-bred mare Ayra Stark, now in the care of Horacio De Paz, is set to return to action and shapes as one of the key players in the upcoming Florence S. at Turfway Park, where she will face a fresh, high-quality test over a demanding distance against a competitive field

Ayra Stark Seeks Her First Stakes Victory in the United States / KEENELAND

FLORENCE, Ky. (Special to Turf Diario) — Argentine Group 2 winner Ayra Stark will add another chapter to her international résumé on Saturday when she lines up as one of the headline attractions in the $125,000 Florence S., to be contested over 2000 meters on the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park. The race has drawn a competitive field of 12 fillies and mares.

Bred by Haras Juan Antonio, Ayra Stark made her name early in Argentina, where she stamped herself as a filly of genuine quality with a decisive six-length success in the G2 Clásico Ramón Biaus, the high point of a solid domestic campaign that saw her win six of her 12 starts.

Since relocating to the United States earlier this year, the daughter of Cosmic Trigger has continued to enhance her profile. She opened her North American account with a 3 1/4-length allowance victory at Colonial Downs, before turning in an even more authoritative performance at Keeneland in October, scoring by 4 1/4 lengths and confirming that adaptation to new surfaces and conditions would pose no obstacle.

Formerly trained by Ignacio Correas (h.), who recently stepped away from training in the U.S., Ayra Stark is now in the care of Horacio De Paz, a conditioner well versed in managing internationally campaigned runners. She will be ridden by Víctor Carrasco and break from post 10, a draw that will require a measured, patient ride in a stamina-testing contest.

The Florence S. is far from a straightforward assignment. Among her principal rivals are Speed Shopper (Quality Road), runner-up in the G2 Rodeo Drive S.; Duvet Day (Starspangledbanner), winner of the G3 Cardinal S. in 2024; and Sabalenka (Good Samaritan), a proven stakes winner who brings consistent form into the race.

With proven staying ability, a competitive mindset and an upward trajectory since arriving in the U.S., Ayra Stark faces another demanding but enticing opportunity. The distance, the surface and her recent progression all point to a legitimate chance for the Argentine mare to secure her first graded success on American soil.