Vahva has big goals after first Grade 1

A deserved first Grade 1 now behind her, the 4-year-old filly Vahva has two more of them as long-term goals for 2024.

Winner of the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks and the Grade 2 Raven Run to cap her 2023 campaign, Vahva made her first start of this year in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland, where she closed steadily but fell short of catching victorious Alva Starr. On May 4 in the seven-furlong, Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs, Alva Starr couldn’t come close to containing Vahva, who cruised to a two-length victory that yielded a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

Such a performance would have sapped Vahva when she was a 3-year-old, but the filly, by Gun Runner out of Holiday Soiree, has grown up.

“She came out of the race in great order,” said Cherie DeVaux, who trains Vahva for a partnership. “Last year she came out of her races looking like she needed some time. This year, it’s different. She’s holding her condition well.”

DeVaux, plotting Vahva’s path forward, has two major markers in mind, both going seven furlongs: The Grade 1 Ballerina on Aug. 24 at Saratoga and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. To get to those spots, DeVaux said she was likely run Vahva back June 22 at Churchill in the $250,000 Chicago Stakes.

“It’s a Grade 3, but she obviously likes this track. I’d be inclined to then train her into the Ballerina,” DeVaux said.

Cagliostro has not approached Grade 1 status, but did make a sharp 4-year-old debut April 19 at Keeneland, beating the good colt Dreamlike in a first-level dirt allowance, earning a career-best 98 Beyer. DeVaux said she hasn’t worked Cagliostro back yet because “he ran such a big number off the layoff,” but has the June 1 Blame Stakes at Churchill as a target for the Upstart colt.

And finally, 4-year-old turf miler More Than Looks, most recently a fast-finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, has resumed training after suffering a relatively minor injury at Fair Grounds in March. More Than Looks got hurt after being scratched from a turf race, his intended 2024 debut, that was rained onto dirt.

Bling stretches back out

Trainer Vickie Oliver said before Bling made her 4-year-old debut last month in the 5 1/2-furlong Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland that she saw the filly more as a miler than a sprinter. Seventh in her comeback run, Bling will stretch out to one mile in the featured fourth race Sunday at Churchill.

She also has found a softer spot. This third-level turf allowance with a $100,000 claiming option drew only six entrants.

Third in the Grade 3 Valley View over one mile and second in the Grade 3 Pucker Up at 1 1/8 miles, Bling figures to be favored over Implicated, who makes her first start since being transferred from trainer Chad Brown to Brendan Walsh. Implicated won a modest renewal of the Pebbles Stakes last fall and most recently was fourth Feb. 3 in the Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa Bay Downs.

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