Desert Dawn

This Arizona-bred filly broke her maiden in her second career start at Del Mar on Aug. 26. She rated off the pace in the early stages of the one-mile contest and drew off to win by 4 1/4 lengths. In her next start, she finished third at 33-1 in the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 1. She finished unplaced in her final two starts of 2021.

After a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes to start her 2022 season, Desert Dawn stepped up and won earned her first graded stakes win in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on Apr. 9. She made a three-wide move on the turn and fought off odds-on favorite Adare Manor to win. With that victory, she earned 100 qualifying points towards the Longines Kentucky Oaks and ensured herself a spot in the starting gate for that race.

Desert Dawn ran well in the Longines Kentucky Oaks, finishing gamely in the stretch but coming up short of winner Secret Oath in a third-place finish in the $1.25-million race May 6 at Churchill Downs. Following the Kentucky Oaks, Desert Dawn was winless in three more starts in her her 3-year-old season, with the best finish being a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on Aug. 6 at Del Mar.

Desert Dawn's 4-year-old campaign in 2023 was winless in seven starts, but she did continue to compete at the top levels of the Southern California circuit throughout the season. Her best finish once again was a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar.

Desert Dawn got back into the winner’s circle again in her first start of her 5-year-old season on Jan 20, 2024 with a victory in the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita where she topped a field of five fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the main track by a margin of a length.