Gun Runner’s Grade 1 winner Vahva won her fifth career graded stakes Saturday night at Churchill Downs when she outran Claret Beret to win the Chicago S. (G2) by three-quarters of a length.
Vahva won this same race in 2024, just after she won the Derby City Distaff (G1). She also has victories in the Raven Run (G2) and Charles Town Oaks (G3).
Winless since last year’s Chicago, Vahva was closer to the pace than she had been in several races as she pushed Gray Lightning through early fractions of :22.82 and :45.26. Vahva and Claret Beret went past the pacesetter midway on the turn and entered the stretch side by side. After a good battle most of the stretch, Vahva edged clear in the final sixteenth to stop the timer in 1:20.89 for the seven furlongs on a fast track.
“I’m so proud of her that she’s back. She’s been training well and we were hoping she’d bounce back to form,” said trainer Cherie DeVaux. “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’s ownership group is comprised of 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. Saturday’s win improved her record to 7-3-3 in 17 starts, with earnings of $1,991,010.
Vahva, one of six graded winners this year for Gun Runner, is also one of his 12 lifetime millionaires. Gun Runner’s leading lifetime earner Sierra Leone is entered to start in next Saturday’s $1 million Stephen Foster S. (G1) at Churchill Downs.
