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Vahva (Keeneland Photo)
Keeneland Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Vahva, owned by Belladonna Racing, Edward Hudson Jr. West Point Thoroughbreds, Nice Guys Stables and Twin Brooks Stables et al, collared pace-setting Alva Starr in deep stretch to post a half-length victory in the 25th running of the $349,375 Lexus Raven Run (G2) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by John Velazquez, Vahva covered the 7 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.28. It is DeVaux’s first Keeneland stakes victory and the 62nd here for Velazquez. Three of those wins have come in the Raven Run with previous victories coming in 2008 with Informed Decision and 2012 with Gypsy Robin.
Alva Starr led the field of seven through an opening quarter mile in :22.61 while under token pressure from Ancient Peace with Vahva tracking in fourth. On the far turn, Vahva began to close in and by the top of the stretch it was game on between the two favorites.
Alva Starr stubbornly clung to an advantage through most of the run through the lane, yielding only inside the sixteenth pole as Vahva pushed past for the victory.
It was another half-length back to Apple Picker with Lily Poo, Lady Radler and Ancient Peace following in order.
A Keeneland sales graduate, Vahva was coming off a victory in the Charles Town Oaks (G3). A Kentucky-bred daughter of Gun Runner out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Holiday Soiree, Vahva improved her record to 10-4-2-2 and increased her earnings to $873,810 with Saturday’s $211,575 check.
Vahva returned $7.06, $2.92 and $2.46. Sent off as the favorite, Alva Starr returned $2.64 and $2.42 and finished 12½ lengths in front of Dazzling Blue, who paid $3.24 to show under Florent Geroux.
Quotes from the $350,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2)
Cherie DeVaux (winning trainer of Vahva)
On winning her first stakes race at Keeneland:
“I don’t know if there are words to really describe that. Our team has really worked hard with all of our horses, especially this filly, and it’s just so rewarding. (Jockey) Johnny (Velazquez) and I have had great success this year in stakes races, and I told him, ‘There’s one thing we haven’t done yet, and that’s come into the infield (at Keeneland) for a trophy presentation,’ so I’m elated that he got that done. It’s beautiful (out here).”
On Vahva’s determination to run down pacesetter Alva Starr:
“She’s been a gritty filly throughout her career but really had to run that filly down. I’m just really proud of her.”
John Velazquez (winning rider)
“We took the same approach (as in her win in the Aug. 25 Charles Town Oaks-G3, also 7 furlongs but around two turns). She came running and we tried to get a good position. Obviously we knew the speed horse (runner-up Alva Starr) was going to be really tough to beat. (Trainer) Cherie (DeVaux) has done a great job with the horse and gave me the opportunity to stay with her. Everything worked out good. I got close to the heels of the horse in front (Alva Starr), held my position and when I pulled her out she responded. That’s all you can ask of the horses. She was there for me, and she did it all.”
Brett Brinkman (trainer of runner-up Alva Starr)
“We kind of knew we were over the barrel a little bit having never run seven-eighths before. Kudos to (winning trainer) Cherie DeVaux. She routed her filly to Charles Town and that was a good move. I think that made the difference.”
On added distance being a factor
“We knew we were up against a new factor (first time beyond 6 furlongs). I am not scared to run her seven-eighths (again). She is a sprinter.”
“We will probably take her home (to Fair Grounds in New Orleans) and piddle around with her, give her some time off and regroup.”
Tyler Gaffalione (rider of Alva Starr)
“Everything went to plan. She broke and put herself right where we needed to be. She fired for me, she just got tired late.”
Brad Cox (trainer of third-place finisher Dazzling Blue)
“She ran well and had a little bit of a wide trip, but I don’t think it had anything to do with the outcome. I was happy. Another graded stakes placing. She is a nice filly with a big pedigree. We’ll regroup and the plan is to race her next year.”
Florent Geroux (rider of Dazzling Blue)
“I sat right off the speed. I got excited a little bit when it looked like she was moving forward. She kind of stayed where she was. Got beat pretty easy by the first two but held on pretty good to secure the third place. The track is a little bit on the slow side today, but I think it was a good race. The first two especially look like very nice fillies.”
Racing continues Sunday afternoon with a nine-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET and headlined by the 32nd running of the $300,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) for fillies and mares going 1½ miles on the grass. The Rood & Riddle Dowager is the day’s seventh race with a 4:12 p.m. post time.
