Del Mar racetrack
Fiftyshadesofhay began her racing career on September 1, 2012, in a $70,000 Maiden Special Weight at Del Mar racetrack at five and a half furlongs on synthetic. In that race, she broke fifth under jockey Rafael Bejarano and finished fourth. In her next race, on September 29, 2012, she competed in a $47,000 maiden event at six furlongs at her home track at Santa Anita Park on the dirt. Fiftyshadesofhay broke ninth in a field of eleven, steadily advanced to fourth on the backstretch, and finished third.