Ajina is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Champion

Eclipse Award

The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...

 Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

 racehorse

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

.

Bckground

Bred by renowned horseman Allen E. Paulson

Allen E. Paulson

Allen Eugene Paulson was an American aviation entrepreneur, philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse breeder and owner, and a self-made multi-millionaire.-Business career in aviation:Born in Clinton, Iowa, Allen E...

, Ajina was purchased by Janice and Robert McNair's

Robert C. McNair

Robert C. McNair is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the owner of the National Football League team, the Houston Texans in Houston, Texas.-Early life and education:...

 Stonerside Stable

Stonerside Stable

Stonerside Stable is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding farm and horse racing operation in Paris, Kentucky. Until September 2008 it was owned by Robert and Janice McNair, who also own the National Football League team, the Houston Texans...

 of Paris, Kentucky

Paris, Kentucky

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...

.

Ajina was out of the mare

Mare (horse)

A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...

 Winglet, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...

 inductee Alydar

Alydar

Alydar was a chestnut colt and an American thoroughbred race horse who was most famous for finishing a close second to Affirmed in all three races of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a feat not achieved before or repeated since.-Racing career:Trained by John M...

. She was sired by Strawberry Road

Strawberry Road

Strawberry Road was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who went on to race in Germany, France, the United States, and Japan...

, a winner of important Group One

Group One

Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...

 races in Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 and the 1983 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year

Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year

The Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.This award...

.

Racing Career

Sent to the track at age two by trainer Bill Mott, in her four starts Ajina won a maiden race plus the 1996 Tempted

Tempted Stakes

The Tempted Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1975 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York. Run near the end of October, the Grade III race is open to 2-year-old fillies and is raced on dirt over a distance of one mile . It currently offers a purse of $100,000.The...

 and Demoiselle Stakes

Demoiselle Stakes

The Demoiselle Stakes is a stakes race for thoroughbred horses open to two-year-old fillies who are willing to race the one and one-eighth miles on dirt...

. In her only other start, she ran second. At age three, the filly started nine times, finishing third twice and running second in the 1997 Alabama

Alabama Stakes

The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, it currently offers a purse of $500,000...

 and Beldame Stakes

Beldame Stakes

The Beldame Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Inaugurated in 1939, it was run as a handicap prior to 1960...

. Ridden by Mike E. Smith, Ajina won the Coaching Club American Oaks

Coaching Club American Oaks

The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $250,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in 2010....

 and Mother Goose Stakes

Mother Goose Stakes

The Mother Goose Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Raced on dirt, the Grade I race offers a purse of $250,000. Inaugurated in 1957 at a mile and a sixteenth, it was lengthened to a mile and an eighth in 1959...

 then scored the most important win of her racing career at Hollywood Park Racetrack by capturing the Breeders' Cup Distaff

Breeders' Cup Distaff

The Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Distaff from its inception in 1984 through 2007, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders'...

. Her performances in 1997 earned her that year's American Champion 3-Year-Old Filly honors.

Ajina raced four times at age four, winning the 1998 Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff Handicap

Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes

The Allaire DuPont Distaff is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. A Grade II event run in mid May, it is open to fillies and mares age three and older...

 but finishing off the board in her other three starts.

Stud Career

She was then retired to broodmare duty at Stonerside Stable in Paris, Kentucky

Paris, Kentucky

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...

where she has produced six foals.