Vahva

Perhaps the most salient aspect of Cherie DeVaux's 1-2 in one of the first GI Kentucky Derby rehearsals was that it didn't particularly feel like any kind of statement. It was just the sort of thing that now feels natural for a barn that took only six years to go from its first winner to a $10-million campaign, and has just housed its first Eclipse champion in She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}). By sheer force of talent, DeVaux has rapidly dismantled some pretty lazy characterizations. She is no longer, for...

$3.7-Million Lush Lips Tops Book 1 by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, & Alan Carasso LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale blitzed through its opening session Tuesday with 17 offerings--including a pair of weanlings--selling for $1 million or more and figures up dramatically from the auction's Book 1 session in 2024. "It was a really strong day," said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. "The broodmare market was very, very strong. We had 15 who brought $1 million or more, seven of those brought $2 million or more. The weanling...

Vahva (m, 5, Gun Runner--Holiday Soiree, by Harlan's Holiday), winner of the 2024 GI Derby City Distaff S. and runner-up in last weekend's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, brought $3.1 million from Killora/Linton, agent for Boyd Racing at Keeneland November Tuesday. The $280,000 Keeneland September graduate was campaigned in partnership by Belladonna Racing LLC, Lynne Hudson, Edward J. Hudson, Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Twin Brook Stables, W.S. Farish, LBD Stable LLC, Runnels Racing and Manganaro Bloodstock and trained by Cherie DeVaux. She was consigned as a Racing or...

Following a busy week in racing, Keeneland picks up the mantle with its marquee bloodstock auction of the season, the November Breeding Stock Sale. Last week's Keeneland Championship Sale at Del Mar was highlighted by the $3-million final price paid by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa for a share in hot Taylor Made stallion Not This Time. This week, the attention is directed squarely on broodmares and weanlings, and Keeneland has catalogued over 3,086 spanning eight days of selling. Among the headliners in this year's catalog are GI Derby City...

The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, which perennially offers a glittering array of racing and broodmare prospects, will be held Monday in Lexington with bidding on the catalogue of 223 head beginning at 4 p.m. Expectations for the auction are understandably high following a season of record-setting yearling sales. "We have seen a very, very strong yearling marketplace this year and the trends that made a positive yearling sale should continue through the November sale," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. "I am very bullish on the marketplace for both foals and fillies...

Derived from the Latin word 'splendor', Splendora (Audible) equates in the dictionary to magnificent brilliance or a dazzling display of beauty. Putting in a performance worthy of her name, the 4-year-old daughter of Audible upset her favored stablemate Hope Road (Quality Road) to capture the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, the first Breeders' Cup race of the card Saturday. Perhaps a true horse for course and certainly a hometown girl for California, three of Splendora's four previous wins have come over the Del Mar dirt. Campaigned...

Future WinStar stallion Mullikin (Violence) put in his final local prep Friday ahead of next weekend's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Working solo at Keeneland, he breezed immediately following the first track harrowing at 7:30 a.m. and clocked four furlongs in :48.40 (6/65). "We were not looking for anything too fancy," trainer Rodolphe Brisset said. "We did all the bottom work the last three weeks. He showed good energy and the rider was very happy with him. We got what we need." It was his final work in Kentucky as Brisset...

Bentornato (Valiant Minister), runner-up in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, breezed five furlongs in company in a bullet 1:00 (1/24) Saturday morning at Keeneland in preparation for a return trip to Del Mar for this year's race on Nov. 1. He had jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard for the work with Araucano (McKinzie), a 3-year-old maiden. Bentornato finished three lengths clear of his workmate at the wire and lengthened the advantage on the gallop out. "He will have his final work here next week," trainer Jose D'Angelo said of...

Lael Stables's MGISW She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}), considered the top American runner to challenge the Europeans in GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Stakes, continued her steady pattern for trainer Cherie DeVaux by working a half-mile in :48 on Friday morning at Keeneland. Drilling with stablemate & GSW Taking Candy (Twirling Candy), the 4-year-old logged her fifth Friday half-mile breeze since winning the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 16, which offered the filly an automatic ticket to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar....

Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Praying (f, 3, Vekoma--Pray for Leslie, by Bernardini), a 21-1 upset winner of the GIII Prioress S. at Saratoga Aug. 30, backed up that breakout performance with a half-length victory over her elders in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GII Thoroughbred Club of America S. at Keeneland. Favored Vahva (Gun Runner) was second. Zeitlos (Curlin) was third. "It's surreal," winning trainer Robbie Medina said. "There's nothing like winning a big stakes at Keeneland. It's great." Praying raced in an outside fifth beneath John Velazquez and made...

by TDN Editorial Staff Buckle up, race fans, it's going to be a wild ride on Saturday, as no fewer than 16 graded stakes from New York to Lexington, from Los Angeles to Toronto are scheduled, with horse racing's championship weekend now officially less than four weeks down the road. Without further ado, let's jump into the always-productive card at Aqueduct. Champagne, Frizette Share Spotlight at Belmont at the Big A A quartet of graded stakes, headed by the 'Win and You're In' GI Champagne S. and GI Frizette S.,...

Grade I winner Vahva (Gun Runner--Holiday Soiree, by Harlan's Holiday) has been entered in Book 1 of the November Breeding Stock Sale on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Lane's End, agent, will consign Vahva, who is cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect. She will become the first Grade I-winning daughter of Gun Runner to be offered at public auction, according to a Keeneland release Tuesday. Vahva is nominated to the GII Thoroughbred Club of America on Saturday during Fall Stars Weekend on Keeneland's opening three days. "Vahva is a high-class competitor...