Arizona student awarded Ashado Scholarship

Kristen Geary of Benson, Arizona, was presented with the Ashado Scholarship by the champion's former owners Jack and Laurie Wolf of Starlight Stables and Paul Saylor during the Kentucky Oaks (G1) day card on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

Geary will attend Arizona State University in the fall and will purse a degree in animal sciences, with the goal of a doctorate in equine reproduction.

The Ashado Scholarship is a four-year scholarship for a female college student studying an equine-related subject. The student must be the child of a working member of the equine industry.

"There were so many great candidates to choose from for the Ashado Scholarship, it was a very hard decision," said Saylor, who with Johns Martin established the scholarship. "After spending time with Kristen, we find she has exceeded expectations on all counts, and we are all excited about our choice for this year's candidate."

The Race for Education, in its fourth year of operation, is a nonprofit national scholarship foundation established to provide advanced educational opportunities in the equine industry for qualified applicants.

Ashado won the 2004 Kentucky Oaks en route to the Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old filly. The Saint Ballado filly was also champion older female of 2005. The winner of 12 of 21 career starts and an earner of $3,931,440, she is currently in foal to Storm Cat.