Alva Starr

Alva Starr, a Lord Nelson filly owned by Dale Ladner and co-bred by Ladner and trainer Brett Brinkman, won her only race as a juvenile in September 2022 at Delaware Park, taking a six-furlong maiden race by 2 ¾ lengths. The filly returned in spring 2023 and ran second in two consecutive allowance optional claiming races, one at Oaklawn Park and one at Churchill Downs, losing the latter race by a neck to Jersey Pearl after setting the pace.

She then made her stakes debut in the six-furlong Dashing Beauty Stakes back at Delaware Park on July 8, and dominated six opponents in a 6 ¾-length runaway. That gave Alva Starr’s connections confidence to step her up in class and start her in the Grade 2 Prioress Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 2.

With Jose Lezcano in the irons, Alva Starr took command in the backstretch of the six-furlong dirt sprint, shook off a challenge from favorite Dazzling Blue, and drove clear to an impressive 8 ¾-length win, with rival Jersey Pearl a distant second.

Alva Starr is out of the multiple stakes-winning Into Mischief mare Sittin At the Bar, who also produced 2021 Prioress Stakes winner Cilla and two other stakes winners.