Betting With, and Against, Vahva in the Ballerina

The exceptional #3 Vahva (1-1) is the one to beat in a strong field of eight fillies and mares who will run seven panels on the Saratoga dirt in Saturday’s $500,000 Ballerina H. (G1).

The Cherie DeVaux trainee has been in peak form in her last pair of contests. By Gun Runner, the four-year-old highweight has won or placed in five graded stakes races in succession dating back to last season. Her most recent showing might have been her best when she easily bagged the Chicago S. (G3) beneath the Twin Spires. 

Vahva – With

• $5 trifecta key 3 with 4,5,8 ($30)
• $1 trifecta 3 with 4,5,8 with all ($18)

Vahva – Against

• 50-cent trifecta 4,5,8 with 3,4,5,8 with all ($27)
• $3 exacta box 4,5,8 ($18)

She is not a sure thing in the affair but continues to train in swift fashion and retains regular pilot Irad Ortiz Jr. If the peaking bay runs her best race, she will be incredibly tough to upend. 

#4 Society (4-1) was put away readily by the favorite at Churchill Downs last time out, but the Steve Asmussen pupil might fare better over this strip as the potential controlling speed in the contest. Also by the superb Gun Runner, the Grade 1 vixen has blazing early foot, and this course can often play kindly to horses on the front end, especially on big days of racing. 

The five-year-old chestnut is more of an all-or-nothing type, but a win is not out of the question with Tyler Gaffalione in the silks. 

Two other horses can win the race, in my opinion, including #8 Munnys Gold (10-1) at a nice price. 

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the speedy filly was a sharp third in the 2023 Test (G1) on the surface and could get overlooked after failing as the favorite in the Honorable Miss (G2) in her latest venture. The Munnings filly is better than she showed last time out on the oval, and she will find herself sitting in second early on in this spot with the first run turning for home. John Velazquez picks up the mount atop the Florida-bred. 

#5 Scylla (7-2) is interesting on the cutback in distance following a sharp second in the Clement Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar in her latest offering. One of two Juddmonte homebreds in the field, the daughter of Tapit has a world of ability, and the move to seven panels might be a good thing for her. She will have targets turning for home with Javier Castellano in the silks.