Easter (FR)

Easter began his racing career as a 2-year-old in his native France and won a pair of races that year in 2020 at Lyon-parilly Racecourse. After an 0-for-5 season as a 3-year-old in France in 2021, Easter was brought to race in North America starting with his 4-year-old campaign in 2022. Easter went winless until he finally earned his first victory in the U.S. when he won an allowance at Aqueduct in his first start as a 6-year-old on April 7, 2023. That win would be the beginning of a solid 2023 season for Easter.

Easter added another win in an allowance optional claiming race at Belmont Park on June 22, but he really began to come into his own when he was transferred into the west coast barn of trainer Phil D'Amato in the fall of 2023. It was then he won his first start for the new trainer in the Lure Stakes on Oct. 28 at Santa Anita. He followed that up with his first career graded stakes victory in the Grade 2 $200,000 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar on Nov. 25, when he used a closing move to win by a half a length over favored Hong Kong Harry.

On Dec. 26, Easter tallied his third stakes win in a row with a rallying 1 ¼-length score in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes during opening day of Santa Anita Park’s Classic winter-spring meet.

Easter was bred in France by the sire Exosphere out of the mare Excellent Girl by Exceed and Excel.