Vahva

Vahva was a $280,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale by Belladonna Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds, part of her ownership group. She needed three starts to secure her first victory in 2022 during her 2-year-old season with the breakthrough win coming at seven-eighths of a mile Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs, where she prevailed by three lengths. The Gun Runner filly closed out her juvenile season with a third-place finish in the Untapable Stakes Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds.

Vahva opened her 2023 season with a fourth in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton. After a pair of races on the Longines Kentucky Oaks trail in which she was not disgraced but was well-beaten, Vahva returned to easier competition and finished second in an allowance-optional claiming race in April at Keeneland before winning at that level on the Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill Downs May 5 in a gutsy half-length win.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux tested her again versus stakes company in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes July 8 at Belmont Park and she finished third behind Maple Leaf Mel. Shipped to Charles Town next for the Aug. 25 $750,000 Charles Town Oaks, Vahva rallied from just off the pace to post a 1 ½-length win on the wet-fast track to secure her first stakes win in the Grade 3 race.

Grade 1-placed stakes winner Holiday Soiree, by Harlan’s Holiday, is the dam (mother) of Vahva.