June 22, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Double Up
Vahva and Churchill Downs are a match made in heaven.
The highly accomplished 5-year-old mare is now six-for-seven lifetime at the Louisville, Kentucky oval after capturing the $300,000 Chicago (G2) for the second consecutive year.
Operating out of post three as the narrow 5-2 second choice behind favorite My Mane Squeeze (2-1), Vahva, under patient handling from rider Irad Ortiz Jr., held firm before pulling away from 10-1 challenger Claret Beret to win by just shy of a length on Saturday afternoon.
The Cherie DeVaux trainee’s first win of 2025 (2: 1-0-0) and fifth career graded conquest paid $7.28.
Mo, Mo, Mo
Following an impressive rookie campaign which he started by winning his first three starts – including the Grade 3 Sanford – Mo Plex collected his first graded trophy of his sophomore season this past Saturday in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.
Heading into his third start of the year off a Bay Shore Stakes tally on April 19, the 3-year-old Jeremiah Englehart charge continued his ascent with a confident 2-length victory over 6-5 choice Chunk of Gold.
Mo Plex now sits at a stunning 5-1-2 across eight lifetime starts, hitting the board each time en route to banking exactly $745,000.
At 5-1 in the Ohio Derby, Mo Plex paid $12.80.
Not an Illusion
Goldeneye Magic, the longest shot on the board in Saturday’s $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes at 31-1, pulled off a last-minute escape act to steal the 1 1/8-mile contest by a nose over heavily favored Peignoir (1-5).
Thistledown horse players and spectators, alike, were left in awe after the 3-year-old filly who had never previously competed at the stakes level fought valiantly down the stretch for the breakthrough triumph.
The $150,000 first-place prize was more than double what Goldeneye Magic had earned through seven starts leading into the Lady Jacqueline ($72,644).
Prudent punters also rejoiced, as Goldeneye Magic paid a robust $65.
He’s Gone
Friend Ofthe Devil looks like a new horse through two starts this season, remaining perfect Saturday after a step-up in class in the $150,000 New York Stallion Stakes at Aqueduct.
While the result was to be expected from the 1-5 favorite, Friend Ofthe Devil made oddsmakers and handicappers look good, leading coast-to-coast for the commanding 4-length score.
The stellar showing continues to inspire promise in the Carlos Martin charge’s abilities after a difficult opening act to his career (eighth and ninth in first pair of starts).
Friend Ofthe Devil paid a modest $2.60.
At the Gates
Whenigettoheaven has done things the hard way across his 28-start career, competing at the lower levels more often than the stakes tier.
Though, that doesn’t mean the 6-year-old gelding doesn’t get it done against the big boys.
On Saturday at Laurel Park, Whenigettoheaven successfully defended his Ben’s Cat Stakes title, reaching the finish line three-quarters ahead of 3-2 favorite Determined Kingdom.
A professional ride from jockey J.G. Torrealba helped the Maryland-bred occupy prime real estate and capitalize on it later to outduel in the field of nine.
As the 4-1 second choice, Whenigettoheaven paid $10 flat.
