Ayra Stark to Make U.S. Debut on the Fabled Churchill Downs Dirt

The Argentine mare trained by Ignacio Corres Jr. will take on a tough allowance race next Sunday

Ayra Stark said goodbye with a victory in the Biaus and raises hopes for a strong campaign / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- A new chapter begins for Argentine and South American hopes on the racetracks of the United States. Next Sunday, at the iconic Churchill Downs, Ayra Stark will make her U.S. debut in the seventh race, a $80,000 allowance optional claiming event with a purse of $134,000 to be contested over 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

Now trained by Ignacio Correas IV for Haymarket Farms LLC and owner Raymond Montgomery, the dark bay filly will break from the rail in a field of eight, with French jockey Vincent Cheminaud aboard.

A daughter of Cosmic Trigger and Delfia (by Exchange Rate), Ayra Stark hasn’t raced since November 1, when she closed out her Argentine campaign with a victory in the G2 Clásico Ramón Biaus over 2200 meters at Palermo. Bred by Haras Juan Antonio, whose colors she defended at home, she won 4 of 7 career starts, which also included a runner-up finish in the G1 Gran Premio Jorge de Atucha, and fourth-place efforts in both the G2 Saturnino J. Unzué and G2 General Luis María Campos, under the care of Roberto Pellegatta and Juan Saldivia.

Ayra Stark arrives at this assignment in fine condition, having posted her final prep on Tuesday at Keeneland, going four furlongs in :49 flat over the main track. Prior to that, she had covered six furlongs in 1:15.20 in a solid outside move.

The task will be anything but easy, particularly given the presence of Impel (Quality Road), a Juddmonte homebred trained by Brad Cox, who after winning her first two starts, has compiled a string of solid efforts at the graded level. She was third in the G1 Ashland Stakes and G3 Indiana Oaks, second in both the G2 Eight Belles Stakes and G1 Cathryn Sophia Stakes, and recently returned from a layoff to finish fourth in a Keeneland allowance.

Undefeated in just two starts, Sudden Switch (Munnings) looms as another formidable rival. She cruised to victory in her latest outing at Keeneland and will have José Ortiz in the irons. Windy Walk (Munnings), winner of the 2024 Rampart Stakes (L) at Gulfstream Park, will also be in the lineup, alongside the seasoned Ba Dee Yah (Uncle Mo) and Indy Label(Tonalist).