Susie Raisher Photo

Society kicks away in stretch to capture G1 Ballerina and earn Breeders’ Cup return engagement

by Brian Bohl

Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds’ Kentucky homebred Society tracked Munnys Gold’s early speed and had plenty in reserve in the stretch, drawing away for an impressive 3 1/4-length score in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap, a seven-furlong main track sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, on Travers Day at Saratoga Race Course.

Society, rated comfortably by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, earned Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his third Ballerina win overall [and second consecutive victory] while garnering a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint contested in November at Del Mar.

Society, making just the second start of her 5-year-old campaign following a third-place effort in the Grade 3 Chicago in June at Churchill Downs, broke alertly from post 4 and stayed in second position behind pacesetter Munnys Gold, who led the seven-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 22.65 seconds and the half in 44.82 over the fast track.

In the Chicago, Society finished 1 1/2-lengths back behind Ballerina even-money favorite Vahva after setting the pace and exchanging bumps with the winner in the stretch. But Gaffalione helped ensure a similar trip would not play out, tipping out his charge on the backstretch, maintaining that running room and setting her down in the stretch, kicking clear of second-place finisher Scylla to complete the course in a 1:22 final time.

Vahva finished third, 1 1/2-lengths clear of Positano Sunset, with Shidabhuti, Chi Town Lady and Munnys Gold completing the order of finish. Accede scratched.

Off at 7-2, Society returned $9.40 on a $2 win bet and improved her career earnings to $1,839,535. The daughter of the Asmussen-trained Hall of Famer Gun Runner, who earned a co-field best 106 Beyer Speed Figure for her win in the 2023 Pink Ribbon at Charles Town, registered her second career Grade 1 win in joining her 2022 Cotillion effort. She also earned the right for a return Breeders’ Cup appearance, which includes a seventh-place effort in the 2022 Distaff at Keeneland and last year’s fourth-place effort in the Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.

“The filly, I think that we've relaxed with who she is. Been very direct with what races we are going to run her in, and I think that gives her just a little bit more confidence,” said Asmussen, who first won this race with Lady Tak in 2004 before Echo Zulu also won it last year. “I think age and patience and stuff [has improved her], she's just a beautiful filly that we are very fortunate to have to race.”

Added Asmussen on her potential next stop at the Breeders’ Cup: “We wanted the Breeders' Cup to be her third race, with these three races in mind [Chicago, Ballerina, Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint] and felt like that is why she is in training."

Society has faced top-flight competition most of her career, taking on 2022-2023 Champion Female Sprinter Goodnight Olive, 2022 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Nest, and 2021-2022 dual Champion female Malathaat. But Gaffalione helped lead her to the winner’s circle for the first time since that Pink Ribbon effort almost one year later to the day.

“This is a free-running filly. I just try to stay out of her way and get along with her,” Gaffalione said. “Steve knows her best and that's kind of been the plan all along with her, so just try and get along. She's always had this kind of effort in her. Just got a little unlucky last year, but we've always maintained confidence in her, and she proved us right today.”

Juddmonte homebred Scylla, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, has never finished off the board in nine starts, moving to 5-3-1. She won the first three starts of her 4-year-old campaign before running second in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch earlier this month at Del Mar and made another strong account of herself in the Ballerina, with Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano back in the irons.

“I really liked the ways she did it,” Castellano said. “She’s a come-from-behind horse and they went in :22 and :44 [seconds] but they never came back to me. She fought hard. I’m very proud, very satisfied with her. You can see the fractions. I thought the race set up for her but, unfortunately, she was second-best today.”

Vahva, the 4-year-old Gun Runner bay, had won four of her last five starts for trainer Cherie DeVaux, including the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff in May and the Chicago. Her sophomore campaign ended with wins in last August’s Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks at its namesake track and October’s Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland.

“She ran good. It was hard to make up ground today,” said Vahva rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. “I was following the winner. I could never get out of there and ended up on the rail. I don't think there was any excuse today."

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with the annual New York Showcase Day card, featuring six stakes worth a combined $1.25 million. First post on the 11-race all New York-bred program is 1:10. p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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