Nashoba's Key

Nashoba's Key
Nashoba's Key in her stall at Del Mar
Sire	Silver Hawk
Grandsire	Roberto
Dam	Nashoba
Damsire	Caerleon
Sex	Filly
Foaled	2003
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Williamson Racing LLC
Owner	Warren B. Williamson
Trainer	Carla Gaines
Record	10:8-1-0
Earnings	$1,252,090
Major wins
Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap (2007) Vanity Handicap (2007) Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (2007) Yellow Ribbon Stakes (2007) Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (2008)
Awards
California Horse of the Year (2007)
Last updated on September 28, 2008

Nashoba's Key (March 26, 2003 – May 28, 2008) was a bay filly thoroughbred race horse by Silver Hawk (Roberto) out of Nashoba (Caerleon) who went undefeated in her first six starts in the Southern California racing circuit, before placing 4th in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Bred and owned by 79-year-old Warren B. Williamson and trained by Carla Gaines, Nashoba's Key went from an untested 4-year-old maiden to a Grade I winner in less than 6 months. With her first three starts on turf with jockey Garrett Gomez aboard, she earned her first big win in the June 3, 2007, Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap on Hollywood Park Racetrack's new synthetic Cushion Track. Seventeen-year-old jockey Joseph Talamo drove her to a surprise victory against Grade I winners Hystericalady and Balance in this race. A month later, on July 7, 2007, Talamo rallied Nashoba's Key to her first Grade I victory in the Vanity Handicap, again defeating Balance and Hystericalady on Hollywood's All Weather Track.

On August 5, 2007, the filly won the Grade II Clement L. Hirsch Handicap on Del Mar Racetrack's new Polytrack. Nashoba's Key was bumped at the start of the race and was then boxed in on the stretch, but she escaped and outkicked Balance for another win. Owner-breeder Warren B. Williamson commented on the race, "I don't know if you'd call it a conspiracy, but it looked like it. They tried everything to beat her and it didn't work. She was gone."