Rebounding Vahva repeats in Chicago

After a seventh when trying to repeat in the Derby City Distaff (G1), Vahva mounted another title defense in Saturday night’s $298,250 Chicago (G2) back at Churchill Downs. This time, the Cherie DeVaux mare was successful as she repelled a challenge from Claret Beret.

Not only did Vahva regain the winning thread, but she also blitzed seven furlongs in 1:20.89. Her final time of 1:20.89 wasn’t far off champion Groupie Doll’s track record of 1:20.44.

The salient difference from her Kentucky Derby Day disappointment, according to regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr., was the fast track in the Chicago. Last time out in the Derby City Distaff, Vahva caught a sloppy track that she apparently did not enjoy. The five-year-old was also making her seasonal reappearance that day, although fitness alone could not fully explain her retreat.

By turning the page in the Chicago, Vahva reasserted herself in the sprint female division. The daughter of Gun Runner was sent off as the slight second choice at 2.64-1, with My Mane Squeeze just shading her as the 2.54-1 favorite. But My Mane Squeeze failed to factor, while Vahva made the most of her pace-pressing trip.

As the 62-1 longshot Gray Lightning scampered to the lead, Vahva attended through fractions of :22.82 and :45.26. The stalking Claret Beret advanced to make it a line of three abreast briefly, until Gray Lightning backpedaled on the far turn. 

That left Claret Beret as the lone threat to Vahva, and the 10.31-1 chance offered a stern bid turning into the lane. Vahva responded by edging away in midstretch, only to have Claret Beret try to counterattack late. But Vahva held her at bay by three-quarters of a length.

Claret Beret crossed the wire 3 1/4 lengths clear of Zeitlos, who closed willingly but reiterated the idea that she’s more effective at six furlongs. Emery checked in fourth, followed by My Mane Squeeze, Mink’s Palace, Pigalle, Brightwork, and Gray Lightning. Harbor Springs and Marmalade Skye were scratched.

Vahva improved her scorecard to 17-7-3-3, $1,991,010, for her ownership group comprising Belladonna Racing, Lynne Hudson, Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Twin Brook Stables, W.S. Farish, LBD Stable, Runnels Racing, and Manganaro Bloodstock.

“She helped me a lot out of the gate to get into a good position early,” Ortiz recapped. “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.”

“I’m so proud of her that she’s back,” DeVaux said. “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.”

Vahva, now 5-for-6 beneath the Twin Spires, broke her maiden over this track and trip as a juvenile. Entertaining the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail during the winter of 2022-23, she placed third in the Untapable S. and fourth in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds. Vahva hasn’t raced past seven furlongs since. Her stakes resume includes wins in the Charles Town Oaks (G3) and Raven Run (G2), as well as a third in the Victory Ride (G3), as a sophomore. Vahva opened 2024 with a close second in the Madison (G1), her springboard to the Derby City Distaff and Chicago. Her four-year-old season ended anticlimactically with a third in the Ballerina (G1) and an eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). 

Vahva became the third repeat winner of the Chicago, but the first since its transplantation to Churchill. In its original Arlington Park setting, Lazer Show (1986-1987) and champion Informed Decision (2009-10) scored in back-to-back editions. 

Bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds in Kentucky, Vahva sold for $280,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. The bay is a half-sister to Ahavah, runner-up in this year’s Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), and to Grade 2-placed Signal from Noise. Their dam, the stakes-winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Holiday Soiree, placed in the 2013 Humana Distaff – the race we now know as the Derby City Distaff.