DeVaux Tests Ahavah in Fair Grounds Oaks

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Ahavah; Hodges Photography
DeVaux Tests Ahavah in Fair Grounds Oaks

New Orleans, La (March 19, 2025) – Winning at a 29% clip in her fifth season at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, trainer Cherie DeVaux has been making all the right moves with her talented barn. On Saturday, three of her four Louisiana Derby Day stakes entries will be trying something new, with the toughest tests being assigned to a new filly on the Longines Kentucky Oaks trail, Ahavah.

After overcoming the rail draw to win her debut on the Risen Star (G2) undercard, Ahavah will stretch out for her encore in the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), the first prep on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks to offer 200 qualifying points. The City of Light filly took to the front and was never threatened in her one run. On Saturday, she will face eight fillies, including Godolphin’s Good Cheer, who has been dominant winning all five of her lifetime starts.

“If (Ahavah) didn’t have the constitution to do it physically and mentally, we wouldn’t try it,” DeVaux said. “But she seems to have that going for her. It’s a tough ask to go two turns against that level, but she’s running out of her own stall. I don’t have to change anything with her. This will be a good guide on what to do with her going forward in her career.”

Owned by Twin Brook Stables, Glassman Racing, Belladonna Racing, Woodford Racing, B.C.W.T. Ltd. and Taylor Creek, the bay Ahavah was named for the shape of her marking between her eyes.

“The cute part is her name means ‘love’ in Hebrew and she has got a little heart on her head,” DeVaux said. “She’s super sweet. She’s straightforward.”

A half-sister to grade one winner Vahva, DeVaux said there are similarities as well as differences between the two classy and talented stablemates.

“Personality-wise, both (Ahavah) and Vahva are intense in what they’re doing,” DeVaux said. “Ahavah is a bit more relaxed in her training but knows when to push the button. Vahva has always been a little bit keen, always wanting to be on go. This filly is a little bit different in that respect, but still serious when it comes to her job.”

Drawing post 3, Ahavah will be reunited with Jose Ortiz.

“She’ll just have to relax and make her run,” DeVaux said. “She obviously has speed out of the gate. It will be up to Jose with what he does with her from there.”

The Fair Grounds Oaks is scheduled as race 11 on Saturday.

In the 1 1/8 miles $400,000 Muniz Memorial presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2), slated as race 10, DeVaux has two entries, as both Brilliant Berti and Rebel Red (GB) will make their first start since the fall.

“(The Muniz) has been the target for both of them,” DeVaux said. “This is a race to get them both started for the year.”

As a 3-year-old, Klein Racing’s homebred Brilliant Berti scored in three turf stakes, including the Bryan Station (G3) at Keeneland. His five wins from seven starts have all come against his peers, going either one mile or 1 1/16 miles. On Saturday, Brilliant Berti will face older company and try added distance.

“The target is the Old Forester (Bourbon Turf Classic) at Churchill,” DeVaux said. “This will give us a guide on if he can do it. He has to improve a little bit facing older but all signs are pointing to that in his training.”

John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services’ Rebel Red won his only try at 9 furlongs, when facing a salty second-level allowance field at Keeneland, but the 5-year-old son of Frankel ran the fastest speed figure of his eight-race career going 1 3/8 miles in the Red Smith (G2) at Aqueduct.

“Longer is probably better (for him),” DeVaux said. “His best race was last out when we went in the Red Smith.”

In his first try against graded stakes company, Rebel Red took the lead after the first half mile and led for much of the Red Smith. After battling with Limited Liability down the stretch, Rebel Red was passed by Integration and lost the bob for second.

In the $150,000 Tom Benson Memorial, race 8, DeVaux entered Amber Cascade in what would be her first try on the turf.

First post for the 12-race Louisiana Derby Day program is noon CT.

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 153rd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 112th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 22, 2024 through March 23, 2025. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.