Horse Racing
Saratoga: Vahva leads field of 8 in Ballerina Handicap
Photo:
Candice Chavez / Eclipse Sportswire
Grade 1 winner Vahva has solidified herself as one of the top dirt sprinting females in the nation and looks to bolster that stance in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap, a seven-furlong main track sprint for fillies and mares, at Saratoga.
Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the 4-year-old Gun Runner bay has won four of her last five starts, all made at seven furlongs, including the Derby City Distaff (G1) in May and the Chicago (G3) last-out on June 22 at Churchill Downs. Her sophomore campaign ended with wins in August’s Charles Town Oaks (G3) and October’s Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland.
A win in the Ballerina punches a win-and-you’re-in ticket to this year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, contested in November at Del Mar.
“We will use this and the Breeders’ Cup, and hopefully she has a good experience in both,” said DeVaux. “I’m very confident that she is one of the top sprinters in the division.”
Vahva has prepared for the Ballerina extensively at Keeneland, including a half-mile breeze in 49.20 seconds on Aug. 17.
“She’s doing really well. This is a race that we targeted early in the year,” DeVaux said. “She shows up every time and runs her race. That is all we can ask of her.”
Vahva, a $280,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale, is out of the Grade 1-placed Harlan’s Holiday mare Holiday Soiree. Irad Ortiz Jr. will be aboard from post 3 assigned a field-high 124 pounds.
Grade 1 winner Society brings a 7-for-13 record to the starting gate for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The 5-year-old Gun Runner chestnut finished a 1 1/2-length third behind the victorious Vahva and reopossing Positano Sunset in the Chicago last out after setting the pace and exchanging bumps with the winner in the stretch.
Society’s other losses have come to top racehorses, including 2022-23 champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive, 2022 champion 3-year-old filly Nest, and 2021-22 dual champion female Malathaat.
In addition to class, Society brings a co-field-best 106 Beyer from Daily Racing Form for a 5 1/2-length romp of the seven-furlong Pink Ribbon last August at Charles Town.
Asmussen captured this event last year with 2021 champion 2-year-old filly Echo Zulu.
Four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown will have two chances to secure victory with Grade 2 winner Accede and Grade 3 winner Shidabhuti.
Accede broke through at the graded level in her fourth attempt, capturing June’s seven-furlong Bed o’ Roses (G2) at Belmont at the Big A.
The 4-year-old Into Mischief bay next closed for a three-quarter-length second to Spirit Wind in the Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) when cutting back to six furlongs on July 24, the distance of a Keeneland optional-claimer she won in April.
“Accede is in good form right now and I love the way she’s training. It’s going to be a tough race,” said the meet-leading trainer Brown, who won this event in 2022 with Goodnight Olive.
Shidabhuti has made her last three efforts in graded company, including a closing win in the seven-furlong Distaff (G3) on April 6 at Aqueduct. She was subsequently a well-beaten third in the Ruffian (G2) there going a one-turn mile before a fourth in the Bed o’ Roses won by Accede.
Brown said Shidabhuti’s late foot is enough for an ambitious Grade 1 attempt.
“Shidabhuti, putting her in there with that running style, she could pick up the minor awards. Maybe it sets up for her to grab third late,” said Brown. “It seems like a bit of a reach for her, she hasn’t run for a while. I’ve been struggling to find the right race.
“If she could grab a piece of a prestigious race like this, it would help her value,” Brown added.
Grade 1-placed Munnys Gold looks to rebound from a fourth in the Honorable Miss (G2). Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old Munnings ties Society for a field-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure for a 17 1/4-length romp of the Sophomore Fillies versus fellow Florida-breds last March at Tampa Bay Downs.
Munnys Gold is cross-entered in Friday’s listed $150,000 Smart N Fancy, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint at Saratoga for older fillies and mares.
Rounding out the field are Grade 1-winner Chi Town Lady for trainer Wesley Ward; Grade 1-placed Scylla, who was supplemented to this event for Hall of Famer Bill Mott; and Grade 3-placed Positano Sunset for conditioner Ian Wilkes.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Positano Sunset Goldencents |
5.89 | Entered | ||
|
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| 2 |
|
Chi Town Lady Verrazano |
6.39 | Entered | ||
|
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| 3 |
|
Vahva Gun Runner |
7.56 | Entered | ||
|
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| 4 |
|
Society Gun Runner |
7.31 | Entered | ||
|
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| 5 |
|
Scylla Tapit |
7.49 | Entered | ||
|
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| 6 |
|
Shidabhuti Practical Joke |
6.34 | Entered | ||
|
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| 7 |
|
Accede Into Mischief |
6.71 | Entered | ||
|
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| 8 |
|
Munnys Gold Munnings |
6.84 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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