Vahva returned to the winner’s circle Saturday night and it was a familiar sight: scoring for the second year in a row in the Grade 2 Chicago Stakes, she improved to 5-for-6 lifetime at the track in Louisville.
Irad Ortiz Jr. guided Vahva and she was extra sharp, breaking on top and tracking just off the early lead in second. She took control at the top of the stretch and was resolute along the inside in the stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length at 5-to-2 odds.
“I’m so proud of her that she’s back,” said trainer Cherie DeVaux. “She’s been training well and we were hoping she’d bounce back to form. She sat a really good trip and down the lane was just hoping she’d have enough punch left. She really loves this racetrack.”
Irad said, “She helped me a lot out of the gate to get into a good position early. I was able to clear some horses to my inside early but I wanted to bide my time and let her find her stride. We were going a little quick but she was doing it so easy. She showed what she can do. She loves this racetrack – you just have to trust her.”
The Grade 1-winning Gun Runner mare earned $178,000 to push her career bankroll to $1,991,010, on the cusp of $2-million status.
Cherie trains Vahva for West Point and co-owners Belladonna Racing LLC, Lynne Hudson, Edward J. Hudson Jr., Twin Brook Stables, W.S. Farish, LBD Stable LLC, Runnels Racing and Manganaro Bloodstock. She was acquired at the Keeneland September yearling sale.
