October, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Vahva Collars Front-Running Favorite Alva Starr For Raven Run Score

Vahva collared pacesetter Alva Starr in deep stretch and edged to a half-length victory in the 25th running of the $349,375 Lexus Raven Run (G2) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by John Velazquez, Vahva covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.28.

“She's been a gritty filly throughout her career but really had to run that filly down,” said DeVaux, who notched her first Keeneland stakes victory.

Velazquez said he knew favorite Alva Starr would be tough to beat but his mount was game for the win.

“I got close to the heels of the horse in front (Alva Starr), held my position, and when I pulled (Vahva) out she responded. That's all you can ask of the horses. She was there for me, and she did it all,” said Velazquez, who posted his 62nd Keeneland win, three of which have come in the Raven Run, including in 2008 with Informed Decision and 2012 with Gypsy Robin.

Alva Starr led the field of seven through an opening quarter-mile in :22.61 while under pressure from Ancient Peace with 2-1 second choice Vahva tracking in fourth. On the far turn, Vahva began to close in and by the top of the stretch it was game on between the two favorites.

Alva Starr stubbornly clung to an advantage through most of the run through the lane, yielding only inside the sixteenths pole as Vahva pushed past for the victory.

Vahva was coming off a victory in the Charles Town Oaks (G3) Aug. 25. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Gun Runner out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Holiday Soiree, Vahva improved her record to 10-4-2-2 and increased her earnings to $873,810 with Saturday's $211,575 check.

Vahva returned $7.06 for the win.

Alva Starr, stretching out to seven furlongs for the first time, finished 12½ lengths in front of third-place finisher Dazzling Blue.

“We knew we were up against a new factor (first time beyond six furlongs),” said Alva Starr's trainer, Brett Brinkman. “I am not scared to run her seven-eighths (again). She is a sprinter.

“We will probably take her home (to Fair Grounds in New Orleans) and piddle around with her, give her some time off and regroup.”

It was another half-length back to Apple Picker in fourth, with Lily Poo, Lady Radler, and Ancient Peace following in order.

Vahva was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, which sold her for $280,000 to DBR IV and West Point at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

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Catching Up with 2004 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Winner Speightstown

Some horses never seem to set a foot wrong. Speightstown is one of those. From $2-million Keeneland July yearling to Breeders' Cup winner to champion to influential sire, he's not only done it all, but done it all extremely well.

When WinStar's David Hanley was asked if he had a few words to say about the remarkable 25-year-old, he said with a laugh:

“I've more than a few words. He's a wonderful horse. I've been very lucky and fortunate to be around him for the past 10 years. He's a magnificent character and a very kind-natured horse. Always looking for treats, but always willing to do what you ask him to do. He has a beautiful head and a sweet nature.

“Up until a year a year ago, we used to ride him every day and he would bow his neck and swell up like he was going to the racetrack. He was a wonderful racehorse and is now a great stallion with 26 Grade I winners in his career. At the age of 25, he has Prince of Monaco, the highest rated 2-year-old in America right now, and several young sons at stud, which is amazing. He's also one of the best broodmare sires right now. He's just a wonderful horse, an amazing horse. It's been a privilege to have him.”

Speightstown (1998 chestnut horse, Gone West–Silken Cat, by Storm Cat)

Lifetime record: Ch. sprinter, GISW, 16-10-2-2, $1,258,256

Breeders' Cup connections: B-Aaron U. and Marie Jones (KY); O-Eugene and Laura Melnyk; T-Todd Pletcher; J-John Velazquez.

Current location: WinStar Farm, Versailles, Ky.

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Cairo Returns in the Knockaire

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a son of Quality Road returning at Leopardstown seeking an initial stakes win.

14.10 Leopardstown, Listed, €40,000, 3yo/up, 8fT
CAIRO (IRE) (Quality Road) makes his return to the track after a five-month absence in this Listed Bahrain Turf Club Knockaire S., with his last start being a second to stablemate Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas. Also successful in the G3 Killavullan S. here 12 months ago, the relative of Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) faces nine rivals tackling deep ground that will test his fitness.

HOW THEY FARED

16.46 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT
Blackpool (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the first runner for the G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Matron S. heroine Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), put up a sound debut effort in fourth behind his mightily impressive stablemate Ocean Of Dreams (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

13.20 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 7f 23yT
Azada (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), the half-sister to Australian champion and sire The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), earned TDN Rising Star status with this taking debut in difficult conditions.

13.55 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, c/g, 7f 23yT
Moyglare Stud's Dermot Weld-trained debutant Spoken Truth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), a full-brother to last year's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Homeless Songs (Ire), made headway from off the pace in the straight and finished one length and two heads behind the winner in fourth.

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Raise Cain Perfectly Timed at Wire in Keeneland’s Perryville

Snapping a six-race slide and returning to the winner's enclosure for the first-time since his GII Gotham S. win in the spring, Raise Cain (c, 3, Violence–Lemon Belle, by Lemon Drop Kid) nipped Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) in the shadow of the wire to score in the Perryville S.

The aforementioned GI Kentucky Derby prep race has been his only victory in 2023, and in pairing with a nose runner-up effort in the GIII Indiana Derby July 8 to familiar foe GSW & MGISP Verifying (Justify), has been the only time the son of Violence has been on the board this year. The 6-1 distant third choice here for the cut back in distance behind that returning rival and the eventual runner-up, Raise Cain was content to stalk from fourth as a leading trio battled it out on the front. Riding the rail into the turn but moved to the outside at the five sixteenths pole, he was rolling in the six path with a full head of steam entering the lane. Locking horns with Dr. Venkman after catching him late in the stretch, he nailed that rival in the shadow of the wire by a head as Post Time (Frosted) rallied from last to round out the trifecta.

Watch the full replay as RAISE CAIN finds the wire first in the Perryville (L)! pic.twitter.com/qpCikFTyg5

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 21, 2023

“I think it's probably what he wants to do. His only wins were around one turn. He got us to the (GI Kentucky) Derby and he's been such an over-achieving horse, he really deserved it,” said Ben Colebrook. “I think (jockey) Luis Saez made the difference. He rode him great. I mean, all the riders have ridden him well, but Luis gives you that just extra little bit. That's probably what we needed today.”

The first black-type runner for his dam, Raise Cain joins a trio of siblings to get their picture taken on the mare's tally. Lemon Belle, out of MGSW Queenie Belle (Bertrando)–making her a half-sister to GISW & MGISP Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song), dam of two-time champion MGISW Unique Bella (Tapit)–has a 2-year-old Frostelle (Frosted) as well as a 2023 Constitution colt and visited red-hot Justify for 2024. This is the female family of Canadian staple MGISP Sir Sahib (Fort Larned). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

PERRYVILLE S., $235,188, Keeneland, 10-21, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.58, ft.
1–RAISE CAIN, 118, c, 3, by Violence
1st Dam: Lemon Belle, by Lemon Drop Kid
2nd Dam: Queenie Belle, by Bertrando
3rd Dam: Lady Argyle, by Don B.
($180,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $65,000 RNA 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-Andrew N. and Rania Warren; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Ben Colebrook; J-Luis Saez. $153,063. Lifetime Record: GSW, 13-3-2-1, $577,066.
2–Dr. Venkman, 118, g, 3, Ghostzapper–Theory of Change, by Archarcharch. ($105,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Dan J. Agnew, Clint Bunch, Mark Cohen, and James Hailey; B-Ghostzapper Syndicate & Hidden Brook Farm (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $39,500.
3–Post Time, 118, c, 3, Frosted–Vielsalm, by Fairbanks. ($85,000 Ylg '21 EASOCT). O-Hillwood Stable LLC; B-Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman & Milton P Higgins III (MD); T-Brittany T. Russell. $19,750.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, 5HF. Odds: 6.44, 1.26, 7.42.
Also Ran: Loyal Company, Verifying, Confidence Game.

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