Vahva Earns First Graded Stakes in Charles Town Oaks
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Photo: Coady Photography
Vahva wins the Charles Town Oaks at Charles Town
Eleven years after Holiday Soiree finished second in the 2012 renewal of the Charles Town Oaks, her daughter Vahva stormed down the lane to a 1 1/4-length victory in the 2023 edition of the grade 3 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
Vahva, made the narrow favorite over Hoosier Philly when the windows closed the evening of Aug. 25, ran the perfect stalking trip under jockey John Velazquez. Perched just behind the pace in third position behind early splits of :23.37 and :46.82, Velazquez angled Vahva into the clear and she wore down the stubborn pacesetters Undervalued Asset and Late Frost in the final sixteenth.
"I was really confident when I saw where Johnny (Velazquez) was going around that first turn," trainer Cherie DeVaux said of Vahva's effort. "You know, the speed in front and just sat nice and quietly behind. She's just such a great filly for us."
Collecting her first graded tally on Friday night at Charles Town, Vahva ($4.80) raced the seven furlongs on a wet fast track in 1:25.01. The 3-year-old Gun Runner filly boosted her earnings to $662,235.
Undervalued Asset and Late Frost completed the trifecta. Fan favorite Hoosier Philly never fired and finished eighth of 10.
A $280,000 Keeneland September Sale yearling purchase, Vahva is campaigned in partnership by Belladonna Racing, Edward Hudson Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, LBD Stable, Nice Guys Stables, Manganaro Bloodstock, Runnels Racing, Steve Hornstock, and Twin Brook Stables.
Video: Charles Town Oaks (G3)