By Steve Sherack
Society (Gun Runner) stalked and pounced her way to a powerful victory in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Ballerina Handicap at the Spa.
Off as the 7-2 third choice, the speedy Peter Blum homebred was content to track in second beneath Tyler Gaffalione–something that she hadn't successfully demonstrated in her previous 13 starts–as 'TDN Rising Star' Munnys Gold (Munnings) sped through fractions of :22.65 and :44.82.
Society revved up with a flashy move to take over approaching the quarter pole and turned for home with authority while racing in the three path.
Society kept on motoring down the stretch while the turning-back 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla (Tapit), a strong second just three weeks ago in Del Mar's GI Clement L. Hirsch, tried her best on the outside and favored Vahva (Gun Runner), winner of this term's GI Derby City Distaff and GIII Chicago Stakes, both at Churchill Downs, plugged away at the rail.
Neither could make any inroads late, however, and Society finished up full of run to cross the wire a much-the-best 3 1/4-length victress.
Society, a wire-to-wire winner of the 2022 GI Cotillion Stakes around two turns at Parx, earned gaudy Beyer Speed Figures of 105 and 106 in front-running victories in the 2023 GIII Chicago Stakes at Ellis Park and Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes at Charles Town.
Fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 4, Society set the early pace and gave way late to finish third behind Vahva while making her 5-year-old bow in the Chicago June 22.
“The filly, I think that we've relaxed with who she is,” said winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen after saddling his third Ballerina winner and second straight in the race (Lady Tak 2004; Echo Zulu 2023).
“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. 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.
It's obvious she is very fast, very generous. Just a little more spacing in her works [has been beneficial]. She came back in training to get to the Breeders' Cup. Ran honorably last year, but we can run better, and that is the plan.”
Asmussen added, “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.”
Pedigree Notes:
Society is one of 10 Grade I winners for her superstar young sire Gun Runner. The very successful Gun Runner x Tapit cross is also responsible for GSWs Disarm, Il Miracolo, Red Route One and Wicked Halo. Gun Runner and Asmussen were also represented by last year's ill-fated Ballerina winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Echo Zulu.
Society was produced by a winning half-sister to GSW & GISP Pleasant Prince (Indy King) and hails from the extended female family of Sovereign Award and Queen's Plate winner Holy Helena (Ghostzapper) and Midlantic-based sire Holy Boss (Street Boss).
Etiquette is also responsible for the unraced 3-year-old filly Finesse (Street Sense); the unraced 2-year-old colt Valor (Omaha Beach); and a yearling filly by Gun Runner. She was bred to the latter for 2025.
Blum acquired the winner's second dam Archduchess–a half-sister to MGSW Mark One (Alphabet Soup) and GSW Rookie Sensation (Unbridled's Song)–in 2010, and Etiquette was the second foal bred by Blum out of the mare.
Saturday, Saratoga
BALLERINA H.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-24, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:22.00, ft.
1–SOCIETY, 119, m, 5, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Etiquette, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Archduchess, by Pleasant Tap
3rd Dam: My Marchesa, by Stately Don
O/B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 14-8-0-2, $1,839,535. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Scylla, 122, f, 4, by Tapit
1st Dam: Close Hatches (Ch. Older Mare, MGISW, $2,707,300), by First Defence
2nd Dam: Rising Tornado, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Silver Star (GB), by Zafonic
'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-William I. Mott. $100,000.
3–Vahva, 124, f, 4, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Holiday Soiree (SW & GISP, $405,642),
by Harlan's Holiday
2nd Dam: Try to Remember, by Include
3rd Dam: Casanova Striker, by Smart Strike
($280,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Belladonna Racing, LLC, Lynne Hudson, Edward J. Hudson, Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Nice Guys Stables, Twin Brook Stables, Hornstock, Steve, LBD Stable LLC, Manganaro Bloodstock and Runnels Racing; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $60,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, 1, 1HF. Odds: 3.70, 2.85, 1.05.
Also Ran: Positano Sunset, Shidabhuti, Chi Town Lady, Munnys Gold. Scratched: Accede.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
SOCIETY is @BreedersCup-bound! 🏆 The 5YO daughter of @Three_Chimneys stallion Gun Runner wins the Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap with @Tyler_Gaff aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen. pic.twitter.com/RS8y5PeRIA
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 24, 2024
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