Widely ranked as the top female sprinter in America, Vahva will take on another marquee challenge Saturday at Saratoga, pegged as the even-money favorite for the $500,000 Ballerina Handicap (G1).

Vahva has rolled to back-to-back victories in the Derby City Distaff (G1) and Winning Colors Stakes (G3) for trainer Cherie DeVaux, on a path to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) in November at Del Mar.

A Keeneland September yearling acquisition in 2021, Vahva is the 124-pound highweight for the Ballerina, spotting 2 to 6 pounds to the rest of the field. Irad Ortiz Jr. has been her regular pilot all year and will begin from post 3 in the Ballerina, airing as part of a “Fox Saratoga Saturday” broadcast from 3-6 ET on the network channel.

Cherie said, “She’s doing really well. This is a race that we targeted early in the year. She shows up every time and runs her race. That is all we can ask of her.”

A couple hours later, West Point will have the 5-to-2 favorite in a filly and mare sprint at Canada’s leading racetrack when Gal in a Rush goes for her second straight win there on the Tapeta track in the Seaway Stakes (G3).

Gal in a Rush roared home from the back of the pack to win the Hendrie Stakes (G3) on July 6 in her first chance on a synthetic surface. Woodbine’s leading rider Sahin Civaci will guide her for trainer Christophe Clement.