Churchill Downs: Vahva takes over late to win Chicago Stakes

Vahva, winner of the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff on Kentucky Derby Day, collared front-running defending race champ Society with a furlong to run and turned back a late charge by long shot Positano Sunset to win Saturday’s 34th running of the Chicago Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs by 1 1/4 lengths.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rode Vahva to victory for trainer Cherie DeVaux. She ran seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:21.01.

The victory was worth $154,500 and boosted Vahva’s earnings to $1,732,810 with a record of 13: 6-3-2.

“She loves this long stretch here at Churchill Downs and is 4-for-4 over the surface,” DeVaux said.

This was the 4-year-old mare’s fourth stakes win and second this year at Churchill Downs. In May, Vahva scored a two-length win in the Derby City Distaff, also at seven furlongs. As a 3-year-old, she won last year’s Charles Town Oaks (G3) before landing the Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland.

“We knew how talented she was but when you have a nice horse like Society being the lone speed, it does make you a little nervous,” DeVaux said. “Irad gave her a great trip and she was very impressive running her down.”

Society, who won last year’s Chicago Stakes at Ellis Park by 10 3/4 lengths, was keen early off a 231-day layoff and led the compact field of five fillies and mares through early splits of 22.44 and 44.61 seconds. Vahva, never more than two lengths back, ranged into contention around the turn and the two raced shoulder-to-shoulder through the stretch. Inside the final furlong, Vahva spurted clear from the outside for the win.

“In her last couple starts she’s been breaking so sharply,” Ortiz said. “She did that again today and I just let her settle knowing Society was really the only speed in the race. The entire race I felt like she’d have enough kick when we’d need it down the lane and she did.”

Vahva paid $2.92, $2.30 and $2.10 as the odds-on 2-5 betting choice. Positano Sunset, under Julien Leparoux at odds of 17-1, returned $5.62 and $2.96. Society, who finished a neck back of the runner-up with Tyler Gaffalione aboard at 2-1, paid $2.20 to show.

Chi Town Lady was fourth and Royal Spa was fifth.

The next regional graded stakes sprints for fillies and mares will be run at Saratoga: the Honorable Miss (G2) at six furlongs on July 24 and Ballerina Handicap (G1) over seven furlongs on Aug. 24. In Kentucky, Ellis Park will host the Twin Bridges over six furlongs on July 22 followed by the Groupie Doll at one mile on Aug. 11.

“We mapped out her campaign with three targets,” DeVaux said. “She passed the first one with the Derby City Distaff. Then the Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga and eventually the (Nov. 2) Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar. We’ll play things by ear on what races we use to get to these targets but this was an important one for us today in helping us continue our path to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Vahva is a daughter of Gun Runner out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Holiday Soiree and was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds.