Alva Starr fought for the win and won against Vahva (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
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Keeneland Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— P. Dale Ladner’s Alva Starr turned the tables on Vahva as she held on for a half-length victory in the 23rd running of the $591,050 Resolute Racing Madison (G1) for fillies and mares, one of five graded stakes on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.
Also posting graded stakes victories Saturday were Buchu in the 36th running of the $386,888 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association, Arzak in the 28th running of the $337,969 Shakertown (G2) and Bo Cruz in the 37th running of the $294,500 Commonwealth (G3).
Trained by Brett Brinkman and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Alva Starr covered the 7 furlongs in the Resolute Racing Madison in 1:23.36 over a fast main track.
Five and a half months ago here in the Lexus Raven Run (G2), Vahva overtook Alva Starr in deep stretch to win by a half-length. The roles were reversed Saturday.
Red Carpet Ready led the field through fractions of :21.98 and :45.01 as Alva Starr raced in fourth in the clear while Vahva had a ground-saving trip behind the leading quartet. On the far turn, Alva Starr cruised up on the leaders and took over from Red Carpet Ready entering the stretch.
Alva Starr put Red Carpet Ready away at the eighth pole and then fended off the late charge from Vahva.
A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Lord Nelson out of the Into Mischief mare Sittin At the Bar, Alva Starr improved her record to 8-5-3-0 that includes an 8¾-length victory in the Prioress (G2) at Saratoga last September. Saturday’s victory was worth $358,050 and improved her earnings to $778,450.
Alva Starr returned $6.32, $3.90 and $2.84. Vahva, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $3.66 and $2.88 and finished 4½ lengths in front of Red Carpet Ready, who paid $3.34 to show under Luis Saez.
It was another length back to Sterling Silver, who was followed in order by Maryquitecontrary, Hot and Sultry, Big Pond and Icicles.
Racing continues Sunday with a nine-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET that is highlighted by the $400,000 MiddleGround Capital Beaumont (G2) for 3-year-old fillies racing over the Beard Course of 7 furlongs, 184 feet. The MiddleGround Capital Beaumont is the afternoon’s eighth race with a 4:44 p.m. post time.
Quotes for the $600,000 Resolute Racing Madison (G1)
Brett Brinkman (winning trainer of Alva Starr): “I had no fear (about her coming from off the pace). Everybody calls her a ‘need the lead’ horse but she’s not. She’s really not. Definitely (coming from off the pace benefited her), the way they stacked up down the backside. Without a doubt. It was a great race. She’s pretty good. She’s a Grade 1 winner; what can I say? The special ones win Grade 1s. She has her distance limitations, there’s no doubt. We’ll see where we go. Hopefully, we can capture another one and keep going.”
Tyler Gaffalione (winning rider): “No, (coming from off the pace wasn’t the plan), but there was a lot of speed up there and I didn’t want to get into a four-way battle. She relaxed for me and when I called on her, she responded for me. All the credit goes to the connections. They brought her over here ready to run, and I just had to steer her around there. I peeked over at the screen at about the eighth pole, and I saw somebody (Vahva) was to my outside, but my filly was still running at that point, and I was fairly confident we were going to be able to get the job done.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of runner-up Vahva): “I had a beautiful trip, but I just got beat. Nice filly. She did everything right, I’m very happy with her.”
Luis Saez (rider of third-place finisher Red Carpet Ready): “She broke pretty well. She came to the stretch, and I thought we had a chance to get there. But the winner came in front. She tried.”
