It's been a long time between drinks for Vahva (Gun Runner), the 2024 GI Derby City Distaff Stakes winner whose last career win came exactly a year ago in the Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs, when it was a Grade III event. Upgraded to Grade II this year, the Chicago Stakes was targeted by Vahva's connections after the now-5-year-old made no impact in this year's edition of the Derby City Distaff.
Irad Ortiz, Jr. kept her a little closer to the pace than usual in the Chicago, as she tracked 62-1 Gray Lightning (Social Inclusion) through fractions of :22.82 and :45.26. On the far turn, Claret Beret (Not This Time) joined Vahva to her outside as she pounced on Gray Lighting and the two raced in tandem for several strides. Classy as ever, Vahva edged free to defend her Chicago win by about a length despite Claret Beret–winner of a May 11 Gulfstream handicap by 19 3/4 lengths–holding her own while drifting slightly. Multiple stakes winner Zeitlos (Curlin) got up for third.
“I'm so proud of her that she's back,” said trainer Cherie DeVaux. “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.”
Pedigree Notes:
Part of a strong contingent of graded winners by Gun Runner–which includes the likes of champion Sierra Leone–Vahva is out of the stakes-winning mare Holiday Soiree who hit the board in the GI Humana Distaff Stakes. A $300,000 purchase during Keeneland November, she was taken home by Wimberley Bloodstock while carrying a filly by City of Light who is now a yearling. Sent back to Gun Runner for this past spring, Holiday Soiree is also responsible for 5-year-old stakes-placed mare Signal From Noise (Arrogate), 3-year-old GII Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks runner-up Ahavah (City of Light) and 2-year-old filly in-training Where Luck Lives (Nyquist), who was bought by Flying Dutchmen at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale for $725,000. Vahva's dam is a half-sister to MSW/GSP Marquee Prince (Cairo Prince) and to the dams of MSW Miss Justify (Justify) and SP Boreas (Upstart). She is also part of an extended female family which includes MSW/GSP Fuerteventura (Summer Front).
Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHICAGO S.-GII, $298,250, Churchill Downs, 6-21, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:20.89, ft.
1–VAHVA, 118, m, 5, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Holiday Soiree (SW & GISP, $405,642),
by Harlan's Holiday
2nd Dam: Try to Remember, by Include
3rd Dam: Casanova Striker, by Smart Strike
($280,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Belladonna Racing LLC, Lynne Hudson, Edward J. Hudson, Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Twin Brook Stables, W.S. Farish, LBD Stable LLC, Runnels Racing and Manganaro Bloodstock; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $178,800. Lifetime Record: GISW, 17-7-3-3, $1,991,010. *1/2 to Signal From Noise (Arrogate), GSP, $250,790 and Ahavah (City of Light), GSP, $113,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Claret Beret, 118, f, 4, Not This Time–Bessie M, by Medallist. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($85,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $375,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Miller Racing LLC; B-Mitch Haynes (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $58,000.
3–Zeitlos, 123, m, 5, Curlin–Thyme For Roses (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). ($350,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC and Peter Leidel; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $29,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3 1/4, 5. Odds: 2.64, 10.31, 4.04.
Also Ran: Emery, My Mane Squeeze, Mink's Palace, Pigalle, Brightwork, Gray Lightning. Scratched: Harbor Springs, Marmalade Skye. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Vahva wins the G2 Chicago Stakes! 🏇 pic.twitter.com/hwJTA0kKVI
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) June 22, 2025
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