OLYMPIAD’s Citrus Springs shipped to the U.S. this week after breaking her maiden in Ireland to race in the $750,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies S. and she didn’t disappoint when leading home a Gainesway-sired exacta.
The Joseph O’Brien trainee spent much of the one-mile turf race tracking the leading Elegante Miz and making sure to keep the pressure on that runner. Never giving the other horse a breather, Citrus Springs was sent wide by jockey Ben Curtis into the stretch to set her up for a strong challenge for the lead.
Citrus Springs inched up on the leader early in the stretch before entering a brief duel just inside the final furlong. Elegante Miz grudgingly conceded her lead soon after, but Citrus Springs still had to hold off KARAKONTIE’s fast closing Up Before The Dawn.
The wire came in perfect time for Citrus Springs with that one winning by a head over Up Before The Dawn and nearly two lengths ahead of Elegante Miz.
From the Emerald Isle to the Bluegrass for Citrus Springs, winner of the $750,000 Pepsi Juvenile Fillies Stakes!
Ben Curtis piloted the filly for trainer Joseph O’Brien and owner Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. #KyDowns pic.twitter.com/A50ZUqHGzs
— Kentucky Downs (@KYDownsRacing) September 7, 2026
Citrus Springs has finished first or second in two of her three starts for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing after being purchased for $300,000 by O’Brien and Justin Casse in March at OBS.
Bred by International Equities Holding, her dam is the Tale of the Cat mare California Spirit. Now the dam of a stakes winner, she has three winners from four to race with the fourth a placed runner. California Spirit’s dam also produced the Grade 2 winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Protonico with their A.P. Indy dam’s four winners also including 10-time winner African Fighter.
Citrus Springs’ third dam is Chilean Horse of the Year Wild Spirit, who produced two stakes horses and is also the dam of multiple stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Pioneering Spirit.
This is the second winner of the weekend for OLYMPIAD, whose Musa Dorada became his ninth winner with a win on Friday.