Ayra Stark Shines in Tough Keeneland Allowance and Bids Farewell to Ignacio Correas
- Lineage Bloodstock
- Oct 21
- 7 min read
The chestnut filly Ayra Stark (Cosmic Trigger) once again elevated the prestige of Argentine turf by claiming a commanding victory in a $130,000 allowance race at Keeneland, in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Her 4¼-length triumph over Poppy The Princess (Cairo Prince) not only confirmed her complete adaptation to American turf courses, but also extended the brilliant legacy of her trainer Ignacio Correas IV, who marked his 301st U.S. win with this race, more than two decades after settling in the country.
Ayra Stark’s story is one of a filly who, without coming from a globally renowned pedigree, crossed borders and surfaces to succeed. In her native Argentina, the daughter of local stallion Cosmic Trigger, a sire of notable domestic success, won 4 out of 7 starts, all on the dirt track of Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo. That includes a dominant six-length win in the prestigious Ramón Biaus (G2), defeating the top fillies on dirt. From early on, her competitive spirit was evident: she won on debut, finished second in a G1 in just her third start, and ran fourth in two G2 races during Argentina’s graded stakes circuit before closing that phase with back-to-back allowance wins in Palermo. She was, without question, a filly with international projection.
After her Group 2 win in Argentina, Ayra Stark (Cosmic Trigger) was sold to Haymarket Farm and exported to the United States. There, under the patient care of Ignacio Correas IV, the chestnut filly adapted brilliantly. Correas discovered that American turf suited her perfectly, bringing out a more agile version of the filly—one whose closing kick is ideally suited for the more tactical pace scenarios typical of Northern Hemisphere racing. At Keeneland, facing a field of six other 3- and 4-year-old fillies, Ayra Stark once again proved herself to be a serious, professional racehorse.
This win carried special weight, as it came during the final stretch of Ignacio Correas IV’s distinguished training career in North America. Since moving to the U.S. in 2001 and launching his own operation — IC Racing — “Nacho” Correas has become a respected and admired figure, particularly for his outstanding work with fillies. It’s no coincidence that the majority of his stars have been female: names like Dona Bruja (Storm Embrujado), Blue Prize (Pure Prize), Didia (Orpen), Le Da Vida (Gemologist), Nanda Dea (Fortify), Nanabush (Il Campione), and now Ayra Stark (Cosmic Trigger) form a constellation that reflects both his training philosophy and long-term vision.
In Argentina, Correas was always held in high regard, especially by top breeding farms. He trained for leading studs like El Turf, Abolengo, and his own family’s operation, Haras Las Ortigas, all known for their focus on developing high-quality fillies for future breeding. His methodical approach and long-term planning made him the preferred choice for breeders looking to build strong careers for their fillies before sending them to the breeding shed.
With Ayra Stark’s win, Correas begins his farewell to the sport. News of his departure has spread quickly across the American racing world. After the Breeders’ Cup, he plans to return to his native Argentina, where his family, his partner Marina, and their dogs, who already began the journey back, await him. His return will close a career that spanned more than two decades and helped elevate the global standing of Argentine turf in the most competitive racing circuit in the world.
In recent years, Ignacio Correas became something of an unofficial ambassador for South American talent. His method has followed a near-mathematical precision: import fillies with strong Southern Hemisphere campaigns, give them time to acclimate, and then gradually expose them to the competitive demands of North American racing. Time and again, this formula has proven successful, Ayra Stark being the latest example.
First came Blue Prize (Pure Prize), the unforgettable Argentine mare who won the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). Then followed Didia (Orpen), who became a multiple graded stakes winner, and later Le Da Vida (Gemologist), Nanda Dea (Fortify), Nanabush (Il Campione), and now Ayra Stark (Cosmic Trigger), all imported from the Southern Hemisphere with accomplished campaigns in their home countries, mainly Argentina and one from Chile. The pattern is clear, South American mares, with stamina, and a genetically solid foundation, enabling them to perform at a high level on the demanding North American circuits once they adapt to the rhythm and surfaces.
Correas has known how to translate that genetic potential into results. His meticulous approach to training, emphasizing recovery, adaptation, and patience, contrasts with the speed-driven mindset of many U.S. programs. Ayra Stark (Cosmic Trigger) emerged as the epitome of that philosophy: calm in waiting, decisive when attacking, and physically complete, responding effortlessly to the smooth handling of José Luis Ortiz.
The race, contested over a mile and a half (2400 meters) on firm turf, brought together a field of seven fillies with solid regional form. From the break, Statement Made (Always Dreaming) took the lead, setting even fractions of 25 seconds every two furlongs (800 meters), while Ayra Stark (Cosmic Trigger), piloted by José Luis Ortiz, tracked in second, about two lengths off the pace. Behind them, Poppy The Princess (Cairo Prince) raced patiently in third.
In the final turn, Ortiz began to nudge the chestnut forward, and she responded with a powerful stride. As Statement Made tried to hold her ground, Ayra Stark drew even effortlessly and, turning into the stretch, took command decisively. In the final 200 meters, Ortiz urged her only once with his left hand, the margin widened to 4¼ lengths, and he guided her comfortably to the wire. Poppy The Princess (Cairo Prince) finished a good second. The final time of 2:31.23 was solid for the class, confirming that Ayra Stark not only won, she dominated.
The winner’s sire, Cosmic Trigger, is a genetic jewel of Argentine turf. A son of Lizard Island (by Danehill Dancer), he is a maternal half-brother to the legendary Candy Ride (Ride the Rails), one of the most influential stallions ever exported from the Southern Hemisphere. Like Candy Ride, Cosmic Trigger was bred and raised at the historic Haras Abolengo, owned by the Menditeguy family, where both shared the same dam — the great Candy Girl (Candy Stripes).
Cosmic Trigger’s career was brief but brilliant, unbeaten in his only two starts over a mile at Palermo. A premature injury forced his retirement, cutting short what could have been an exceptional racing career, but his stud potential quickly became evident. Since 2016, he has stood at Haras Abolengo, where his famed brother was also born, and his results speak volumes. Out of 287 runners, 175 have won, an impressive 61% strike rate. Moreover, he has already produced six G1 winners, a remarkable figure for a domestically based stallion, placing him among the elite sires of South America.
The nick between Cosmic Trigger and mares by Exchange Rate (Danzig) has proven especially successful: out of six foals, five are winners, including Ayra Stark, who reached graded-stakes level. The cross tends to produce fast, long-striding, and competitive offspring, traits that are clearly expressed in Correas’ mare.
Ayra Stark’s female family also helps explain her quality. Her third dam, Dama Imperial (Mariache), was a top-class sprinter who carried the silks of Haras Vacación, winning five races, including the Lotería Nacional (G3) in 1994, a performance that secured her place among Argentina’s elite mares and later as a valuable broodmare. From that line descended Data (Roy), later exported to Japan, and through several generations emerged Ayra Stark (Cosmic Trigger), reaffirming the strength of her maternal line.
That family, carefully cultivated by Haras Vacación, carries in its DNA the depth of Argentine breeding through Mariache (Dancing Moss), a line that the local breeding industry has skillfully preserved in its crosses with North American bloodlines. It is no coincidence that daughters of Cosmic Trigger out of such mares stand out for their consistency and Ayra Stark is, so far, the most illustrious representative of a lineage that promises to extend even further in the coming years.
The cross between Cosmic Trigger and Exchange Rate mares has become a model worth studying. Statistically, among six foals registered from this combination, five have won, and Ayra Stark is the only graded winner. The success of this nick lies in genetic compatibility and the reinforcement of Danzig (Northern Dancer) 3Dx5S, which contributes stamina. In Ayra Stark, this manifests clearly: she is a long-bodied, well-balanced filly capable of handling different surfaces while sustaining her drive through the final stages, a crucial trait in demanding North American races.
Keeneland, steeped in history, remains one of the great proving grounds of American racing, a place where many names are forged before rising to prominence on the East Coast or in the Breeders’ Cup circuit. The $130,000 purse for an allowance of this class is far from trivial; it attracts fillies in transition between lower-level divisions and stakes company, ensuring a strong field. Ayra Stark’s next target is likely a Grade 2 or Grade 3 race, though now under a new trainer’s care.
The victory came under the ride of José Luis Ortiz, one of the most consistent and tactically astute jockeys in the U.S. Familiar with the South American style of racing, Ortiz guided Ayra Stark with the perfect balance of patience and determination. The result was a flawless performance, leaving the door open for the filly to soon appear in higher-level stakes, perhaps before the year’s end.
Ayra Stark’s achievement weaves together two intertwined narratives, Ignacio Correas’ farewell and the international projection of Cosmic Trigger’s bloodline. Both symbolize the same principle: the capacity of Argentine racing to produce world-class quality. Like other great South American trainers, Correas mastered the art of interpreting each horse’s rhythm and translating it into results within the highly competitive North American system. His retirement, set for November 2025, after the Breeders’ Cup, marks the end of an era during which the Argentine flag flew proudly across the world’s greatest racetracks.
For her part, Ayra Stark (Cosmic Trigger) embodies the promise of continuity, a filly bred and raised in Argentina, by a domestic stallion, descended from a consolidated family, and capable of winning decisively at Keeneland, the very heart of the Bluegrass. Her victory is more than just a statistic; it is a tribute to the collaborative effort of breeders, trainers, and professionals who, from the Southern Hemisphere, continue to nourish the pulse of a global industry.
Ayra Stark’s triumph at Keeneland is far more than a line in the official race chart. It stands as a testament to a well-constructed campaign, sound genetic vision, and meticulous craftsmanship. It is also another link in the chain connecting Palermo to Keeneland, Argentine breeding farms to Kentucky pastures, and the passion of Southern breeders to the professionals who dare to cross borders.
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