Vahva holds off Alva Starr to take Raven Run Stakes

Vahva edged pacesetting Alva Starr to score a half-length victory in the Grade 2, $350,000 Raven Run Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

It was the second consecutive stakes win for Vahva ($7.06), who previously won the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks, and continued a breakout season for trainer Cherie DeVaux. She has saddled five graded stakes winners this season, including her first Grade 1 winner in She Feels Pretty, who will be among her Breeders’ Cup runners. This was her first stakes win at Keeneland.

“I don’t know if there are words to really describe that,” DeVaux said. “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.”

Alva Starr, coming off a sharp win in the Grade 2 Prioress in New York, was in her customary spot on the lead in the Raven Run, and took the field into the stretch with a widening length lead through a half in 45.48 seconds. Vahva saved ground in the early going under Velazquez, tipped out around the turn, and came four wide into the stretch. She gradually wore down Alva Starr, who was favored despite running beyond six furlongs for the first time, for her win.

“She’s been a gritty filly throughout her career but really had to run that filly down. I’m just really proud of her,” DeVaux said.

The time for the seven furlongs was 1:23.28.

After Vahva and Alva Starr, it was a wide gap of 12 1/2 lengths back to Dazzling Blue in third in the field of seven.