Cherie DeVaux

Trainer Cherie DeVaux joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to recap a big weekend at Pimlico and discuss her eye on the future of her operation.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux, who won three stakes races on Black-Eyed Susan day Friday, took home the top prize of $50,000 in the Maryland Jockey Club's $100,000 trainer bonus competition held over the weekend at Pimlico. The first female trainer to earn the top honor, DeVaux took wins in the GIII Pimlico Special S, the Hilltop S. and the Allaire du Pont Distaff on Friday and finished with 34 total points over the two days of stakes racing, four more than runner up Steve Asmussen. Mike Trombetta finished third with 28...

A well-backed 5-1 while making his stakes debut in Friday's GIII Pimlico Special S. over the Preakness S. course and distance, Blue Heaven Farm homebred Pyrenees (Into Mischief) was delivered in the nick of time by Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. to complete a memorable stakes three-timer for the Cherie DeVaux barn. The beautifully bred 4-year-old, who capped a three-race winning streak--with Hernandez, Jr. aboard each time--courtesy of a three-length allowance victory over a sloppy Keeneland main track Apr. 12, was eased back and settled not far from a...

She Feels Pretty, who took last year's GI Natalma S. at Woodbine before finishing third beaten just a half-length by Hard to Justify (Justify) as the favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, returned to the races Friday with authority in the Hilltop S. at Pimlico. Bet down to 3-5 even off the layoff, the Lael Stables-owned filly--contesting her third straight one-mile race under John Velazquez--broke towards the outside and was happy to sit back off the early pace, letting Roanan Goddess (Leofric) handle the tempo from the...

Equine nutritional best practices from foals to racehorses was covered in the third panel of the 2024 OwnerView webinar series held May 14, said co-hosts The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association via a press release Thursday morning. The virtual panel consisted of trainer Cherie DeVaux; Anthony Koch, Hallway Feeds; Dr. Joe Pagan, Kentucky Equine Research; and Bradley Purcell, Claiborne Farm. The guests discussed everything from the feeding late pregnant mares to the importance of water and hay intake. Click here to watch a replay of the...

A running-on second to Alva Starr (Lord Nelson) when making her seasonal return in Keeneland's GI Resolute Racing Madison S. Apr. 6, Vahva (Gun Runner) was the 8-5 favorite to reverse form with that rival in Saturday's GI Derby City Distaff S. at Churchill Downs and clawed past late for her first win at the elite level. Quickest into stride from an outside barrier, the $280,000 Keeneland September graduate came back nicely into the hands of Irad Ortiz, Jr. and was content to stalk the pace from third as Alva...

Trainer Cherie DeVaux and bloodstock agent David Ingordo have taken up Brook Smith's challenge and have joined the Backside Learning Center's "Purses for a Purpose" initiative. "I have a challenge," Smith said last week. "If we can get 150 owners, and 150 horses for that matter, and they pledge to donate 1% of purse winnings with these 150 horses, that moves a bigger needle than people realize. And it means a lot, the thought that the owners think about the backside, and those who support it." DeVaux and Ingordo have...

Despite the varying levels of industry experience and the assortment of roles held amongst the 80 attendees at the Horse Racing Women's Summit (HRWS) event at Keeneland on Thursday, April 18, the sense of comradery was palpable throughout the day's program. The first HRWS event of the year, the sold-out program included a keynote conversation and two panel discussions focused on the topics of sales and bloodstock, along with a workshop activity and ample opportunity to converse with fellow industry women throughout the afternoon. Shannon Arvin, President and CEO of...

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL - Without a breakout horse and numerous outs, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training dutifully marched through its paces Thursday, with a colt by Nyquist attracting the session's highest price of $550,000 late in the day. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Zedan Racing Stable, signed the ticket on the session topper for the third straight day. From a catalogue of 302 horses, just 187 went through the ring Thursday and the session, which started...

The Horse Racing Women's Summit will host a panel discussion at Keeneland Apr. 18. The day will kick off with a welcome address from Gabby Gaudet, a reporter/analyst for FanDuel TV and Keeneland, who will also moderate the keynote conversation hosted by Shannon Arvin, the President and CEO of Keeneland, alongside Julie Cauthen, a bloodstock agent and member of the Keeneland Inspection Team. "Keeneland is honored to host the Horse Racing Women's Summit, which promises to be a great day of discussion, reflection, valuable connections and fun. We look forward...

It is often espoused at business management seminars that having access to people smarter than you is a blessing and not a threat. We also know that having access to communities that share a common interest fosters social collaboration and belonging. But did you know having access to a guy affectionately nicknamed the "Italian Yoda" can lead to a graded stakes victory as a racehorse owner? This type of access has been thoughtfully curated by the powerhouse team at Belladonna Racing Partnership, which includes Paul Manganaro (the Italian Yoda), David...

2nd-GP, $89k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 12:39p.m. ET RABDAH (Constitution), a half-sister to GSW-Eng Toro Strike (Toronado {Ire}), debuts here for Todd Pletcher and Al Shaqab Racing. Hailing from the immediate female line of Scarlet Tango (French Deputy), who tallies GISW Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song), herself dam of GSW Capensis (Tapit); GISW Visionaire (Grand Slam); and the dam of SP Ignitis (Nyquist), among others, Rabdah has been given an 8-1 morning line appraisal with jose Ortiz in the irons. To her outside is Segesta (Ghostzapper), a homebred for Juddmonte,...