When Vahva won the Chicago Stakes (G3) a year ago, she appeared on a path to dominate the female sprint division. That was not what unfolded the second half of the year and after three straight losses, she has a chance to right the ship in this year's $300,000 Chicago Stakes (now a grade 2) at Churchill Downs June 21.
The daughter of Gun Runner started her season on a sloppy track at Churchill May 3 in the Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1), meeting the best female sprinters in the country off a six-month layoff. She would finish seventh, beaten 12 1/4 lengths, after racing behind the pacesetters in the seven-furlong contest.
"Hindsight, (the Derby City Distaff) was a super ambitious spot for her to get started back off of such a long layoff," said trainer Cherie DeVaux. "She's training really well, she loves this track. I'm hoping everything goes in her favor and Mother Nature cooperates."
The Derby City defeat was her first on the Churchill Downs oval in five starts. As of June 17, the forecast predicts a fast track in Louisville, Ky., as she travels seven furlongs again.
While weather should be in her favor, DeVaux also mentioned that this will be a real test to see if, mentally, the mare still wants to race as she approaches $2 million in earnings for owners Belladonna Racing, Lynne Hudson, Edward Hudson Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Twin Brook Stables, W.S. Farish, LBD Stable, Runnels Racing, and Manganaro Bloodstock.
"Good trip, and just mentally she has to be there," DeVaux said of the keys to victory. "She's 5 years old, it's always a question, so we'll just see how she is. She's been training extremely well. She had been into that last race in the Derby City Distaff. We'll just have to see mentally where she's at."
Several other members of the 11-horse field are in the same boat trying to prove themselves again after early career success.
WSS Racing's grade 1 winner Brightwork makes her second start of the season after debuting with a fourth-place finish to Two Sharp in the May 26 Winning Colors Stakes (G3). She should take a step forward for trainer John Ortiz as she stretches back out to the distance at which she won the Spinaway Stakes (G1) in 2023 for the first time since.
Stonestreet Stables' Emery aims to avenge herself after finishing fifth in the Derby City Distaff, snapping her seven-race streak of finishing in the exacta that included two graded wins and two grade 1 placings. Both of the Brad Cox trainee's off-the-board finishes have come on a sloppy track, so she should show a more accurate representation of her talent if it's a dry surface as Florent Geroux rides for the first time.
Meanwhile, four other contenders exit a victory and hope to keep that momentum going. One of those is Zeitlos, also owned by Stonestreet but in partnership with Peter Leidel. Her seasonal debut was aced with a 1 1/2-length triumph in the Skipat Stakes at Pimlico Race Course May 17. The Steve Amussen-trained closer holds a solid 4-1-0 record from six starts at Churchill Downs, winning all three starts there last year.
All the connections of the 11 runners will hope this is a first step on the road to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1. The Chicago is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Series, awarding credit of $15,000 to the winner, $7,500 to the runner-up, and $3,750 to the third-place finisher toward entry fees.
Churchill Downs, Saturday, June 21, 2025, Race 9Entries: Chicago S. (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Emery (KY) Florent Geroux 123 Brad H. Cox - 2 Mink's Palace (KY) Ben Curtis 120 Eddie Kenneally - 3 Gray Lightning (PA) Walter A. Rodriguez 118 Armando Hernandez - 4 Brightwork (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 118 John Alexander Ortiz - 5 Vahva (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 118 Cherie DeVaux - 6 Marmalade Skye (KY) Irving Moncada 118 David Jacobson - 7 Harbor Springs (KY) Edgar Morales 118 Gregory D. Foley - 8 Pigalle (KY) Luan Machado 118 Thomas Drury, Jr. - 9 My Mane Squeeze (NY) Luis Saez 118 Michael J. Maker - 10 Claret Beret (KY) Micah J. Husbands 118 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 11 Zeitlos (KY) Flavien Prat 123 Steven M. Asmussen -
