DeVaux hopes to push the stakes again

Trainer Cherie DeVaux has the 3-year-old filly entered in the $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes (G2T) on May 27 at Water racetrack.

However, even if Sy B Winning Wonder again by nearly the same margin as Secretariat in the Belmont Stakes (G1), it won’t match what her trainer accomplished last weekend.

On Susan’s black eyes at Pimlico Race CourseDeVaux took center stage during the weekend’s central jewel in the Triple Crown when she won three stakes on the May 17 card, the first outstanding performance for her in six years of training.

“It was really fun. The horses we brought there; the timing worked for them. It all went smoothly and came together,” she said.

That hat-trick of Pistol girl in Allaire du Pont Distaff shares, She feels beautiful in Hilltop Stakes, and Pyrenees in the Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) allowed DeVaux to win the Maryland Jockey Club’s trainer’s bonus by four points over Steve Asmussen and claim the $50,000 prize.

“I was waiting for it to start because I was so busy,” DeVaux said of the accomplishment. “It took me a few days to catch up and think about what had happened. It’s difficult to win any stakes race less than three on the same day. It was special to be a part of it.” .”

After enjoying a career year in 2023 with 56 wins and $5.55 million in earnings, DeVaux is on track for another banner campaign. With a herd of 100 horses that will soon grow to 115 with the arrival of 2-year-olds, she has racked up 25 wins and $2.5 million in earnings through May 24.

“Every year the stable grows organically,” DeVaux said. “I really don’t want a big stable.”

Standing out among the stables is a 4-year-old sprinter Vahva daughter of Gun Runner who became a Grade 1 winner on his last start by winning the Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) in the Churchill Downs May 4.

DeVaux said Vahva will likely be in the June 22 Chicago Stakes (G3) at Churchill as a springboard for the August 24 Ballerina Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

As for Sy B, the homebred daughter of the English Channel’s Blue Heaven Farm won April 5 the 1 3/16-mile maiden special weight race at Keeneland in his third career start and first on the field.

“She seems to be getting stronger over time and should appreciate the distance as far as possible. We think this would be a good spot to put her in stock company,” DeVaux said of the eighth Wonder Again eighteen for 3-year-old Fillies, providing automatic bids to the July 6 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) for the top three finishers.

Get out Belong to me mare Ocean Drive, Sy B makes her debut on February 7 on the all-weather surface at Turfway Parkfinished third and then eighth in his next start at Turfway.

If Sy B can follow the lead of her stablemates at Pimlico last weekend, it would give DeVaux a second-place win in New York, where she once worked as an assistant. for Chad Brown before getting his coaching license. During her tenure with the four-time Eclipse Award winner, she played a key role in developing the 2017 champion mare Lady Eli and her concern as she staged a heroic and successful battle with laminitis.

Brown’s trio was led by John Stewart Sweet Rebecca daughter of American Pharaoh who is 2-for-2 with a win in the Memories of Silver Stakes in her final outing for Resolute Racing.

He will also carry the first winners Segesta One Ghostzapper wholly owned by Juddmonte, and Grayosh daughter of Yoshida owned by Flanagan Racing.

The field also includes the Sanibel Island Stakes winner Vive Veuve And Curlin’s girl as well as two starts just for the inner main track Senorita six-pack And In Gold .