Rashmi secured her first stakes victory on February 1, 2025, winning the $100,000 Megahertz Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares at Santa Anita Park. The 4-year-old filly, trained by Jonathan Thomas, had previously placed fourth in the prestigious American Oaks (G1) on December 26, 2024, and was seeking to rebound with class relief and a cutback in distance.
Sent off as the 9-5 favorite under jockey Frankie Dettori, Rashmi broke well from the gate but soon found herself overtaken by longshot Omaha Girl, who started at 14-1. The two horses raced closely together around the oval, maintaining their one-two positions until they reached the top of the stretch.
This strategic positioning paid off when Rashmi unleashed her speed, blowing past Omaha Girl and drawing away to clinch the race with ease, finishing 2½ lengths ahead of her nearest competitor. "I let (Omaha Girl) go in front and relaxed my horse behind where it was nice and comfortable," Dettori explained. "She was breathing nice. It was just a matter of when I was going to press the button. When I did, she shot forward with speed. Simple as that's.
Behind Rashmi, Mahina, ridden by Hector Berrios, claimed second place, followed by Ligura (5-1) and jockey Umberto Rispoli third. The final time of the race was 1:34.19, with fractions showing early speed: :22.95, :46.77, 1:10.82, and 1:22.64.
Homebred for George Strawbridge's Augustin Stable, Rashmi, daughter of Oscar Performance, improved her racing record to 8: 4-1-1, with her victory at the Megahertz boosting her earnings to $150,736. Prior to this race, she had recorded two wins at Del Mar and experienced notable performance improvement under California training conditions.
"She has really taken to California," Thomas noted. "She has gotten stronger, and she had some confidence boosters at Del Mar with those starter races. I thought she ran deceptively good in the Grade 1 American Oaks here, and we are really excited to get back to the winner's circle." Rashmi's performance has set high expectations for her future races, positioning her as one to watch this season.
This stakes win adds to the growing list of achievements for the filly and her team, showcasing both their strategic racing style and preparation leading to this success. Rashmi’s solid performance at the Megahertz Stakes not only marks her rise but also highlights the value of patience and training techniques employed by her team.