Vahva the Even-Money Favorite in Ballerina

The $500,000 Ballerina Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 24 reunites the top four finishers from June's Chicago Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, with three of them making their first start since that race. The four of them will line up from the rail out. 

The even-money morning-line favorite Vahva  (Gun Runner  ) was odds-on in the Chicago and ran to her odds, winning by 1 1/4 lengths for her second consecutive graded stakes win and fourth overall. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Vahva will carry 124 pounds, giving away up to seven pounds to her rivals. 

"She is the one with the most recent accomplishment, so it's not unexpected," said DeVaux. "I'm very confident that she is one of the top sprinters in the division, and she shows up every time and runs her race. That is all we can ask of her." 

Breaking from post 3, Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride the filly purchased for $280,000 and owned by Belladonna Racing, Lynne Hudson, Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Nice Guys Stables, Twin Brook Stables, Steve Hornstock, LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock, and Runnels Racing. 

Directly to her inside is Chi Town Lady  (20-1), who ran fourth in the Chicago and is the only one of the quartet to have run since then, finishing third in an allowance optional claimer at Saratoga July 26 for trainer Wesley Ward and owner Castleton Lyons, which co-bred the daughter of Verrazano  with Kilboy Estate and Gavin Tierney. Jockey José Ortiz will ride with an assigned weight of 119.

Breaking from the rail is 15-1 Positano Sunset  (Goldencents  ), owned by Six Column Stables, Randall Bloch, John Seiler, and David Hall. Second to Vahva in the Chicago at odds of nearly 18-1, the Ian Wilkes trainee seeks her first graded stakes win in the Ballerina and her first win since the 2023 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park a year ago. She'll carry 118 pounds and be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

The final alumna of the Chicago Stakes is Peter Blum's speedy homebred Society  (Gun Runner), who appears the main threat to Vahva and will break directly to her outside. Unlike Vahva, whose versatile running style gives her rider some options, Society is an inveterate pacesetter, and with fellow front-runner Scylla  (7-2, 122 pounds) directly to her outside, jockey Tyler Gaffalione may find himself in a duel right out of the gate for position. 

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle two in the seven-furlong Ballerina. Longshot Shidabhuti  (20-1) will break from post 6 and carry 119 pounds with Dylan Davis in the saddle, while Accede  (8-1) drew the stall right next door and will carry 121 pounds. Flavien Prat gets the call on the Juddmonte homebred.

Completing the field is Robert and Lawana Low's Munnys Gold , trained by Todd Pletcher and breaking from the far outside post 8, carrying the low weight of 117 pounds. John Velazquez will be in the irons. 

The Ballerina is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, granting the winner an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Two-time Eclipse award-winning champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive  used the Ballerina as a steppingstone to each of her victories in the Filly and Mare Sprint, winning the 2022 Ballerina and finishing second in 2023.

The Ballerina is 10th race on the Travers Stakes (G1) undercard with a post time of 4:20 p.m EST.