Sacred Wish

Sacred Wish began her racing career on dirt in February 2023 with a third-place finish in an Oaklawn Park sprint, and won at second asking at the same track and six-furlong distance on March 5. The Not This Time filly remained on dirt for her next five starts and posted three second-place finishes, including losing by a neck to Wet Paint in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks July 22 at Saratoga.

On Sept. 15, 2023, Sacred Wish made her turf debut in the one-mile Winter Memories Stakes at Belmont at the Big A, and rallied strongly to win by 1 ¼ lengths. She remained on turf afterward, winning one of her next eight starts into fall 2024, that coming in a 1 1/16-mile allowance in May at Belmont at the Big A. The filly also hit the board in four graded stakes on grass during this span.

Sacred Wish was sent off as a 12.80-1 longshot in the Grade 1, 1 1/8-mile Matriarch Stakes held at Del Mar on the Dec. 1, 2024, closing-day card of its Bing Crosby meet. With Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez in the irons, the filly stalked the early pace while saving ground, swung out and took a short lead in midstretch, and outfinished 13-10 favorite Gina Romantica to prevail by a neck and earn her first graded stakes win.

Trained by George Weaver, Kentucky-bred Sacred Wish is out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Wish. She’s from the family of Kentucky Derby runner-up Firing Line, Cigar Mile Stakes winner Sharp Azteca, Shadwell Turf Mile winner Bowies Hero, and Dwyer Stakes winner Mint Lane.