Ghalia angled five-wide off the far turn and put in a determined drive in the stretch to win the Listed Sunland Park Oaks by a hard-fought neck March 26.
The three-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, who was making her Stakes debut is now undefeated in three career starts.
Off a step slowly under jockey Jose Ortiz, Ghalia raced toward the rear of the field early, well off the swift early pace. Ghalia began to make up ground going into the far turn, angling wide as the field hit the top of the stretch. Ghalia continued her rally through the stretch, eventually reeling in Kell Paso to win by a neck.
Bred in Kentucky by Edward Seltzer, Beverly Anderson, and Darley, Ghalia is out of Verdana Bold, winner of the G3 Selene Stakes and Listed Star Shoot Stakes. Ghalia hails from the female family of multiple G1 Stakes-placed Harbour Club and multiple Stakes winner, Holzmeister.
Ghalia becomes the 99th Stakes winner for her sire Medaglia d’Oro, who has also sired champion and multiple G1 winner Songbird and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, New Money Honey.
Medaglia d’Oro is standing the 2017 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for a fee of $150,000.
