Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds’ homebred Society convincingly turned the tables on favored Vahva in Saturday’s $500,000 Ballerina H. (G1) at Saratoga, punching her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
When the two met in the June 22 Chicago (G3) at Churchill Downs, Vahva had the advantage of race fitness, while Society had not run since her fourth in last November’s Filly & Mare Sprint. Society set her typically torrid pace before tiring to third in the Chicago, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Vahva.
But trainer Steve Asmussen was proceeding methodically according to plan, building toward another Breeders’ Cup tilt. Society accordingly moved forward in the Ballerina, her second start off the bench.
“We wanted the Breeders’ Cup to be her third race,” Asmussen said, “with these three races in mind (the Chicago and Ballerina as preps for the Filly & Mare Sprint), and felt like that is why she is in training.”
Winning rider Tyler Gaffalione likewise mentioned the strategy to gear up progressively.
“Just having a start under her belt,” Gaffalione commented regarding her improvement on Saturday. “Last time (in the Chicago), we weren’t all in. Obviously, we had bigger things on the horizon being today. We just wanted to make sure she broke alertly that day. We got enough out of the race, and she came out of it well, so it set us up well for today.”
Society was giving Asmussen his third win in the Ballerina. There was a 19-year gap from Lady Tak (2004) to ill-fated champion Echo Zulu (2023). Like Echo Zulu, Society is from the first crop of Hall of Famer Gun Runner, himself trained by Asmussen.
Previously a need-the-lead type, Society revealed the ability to track and pass a target on Saturday. When Munnys Gold sped forward, Society was content to shadow her through fractions of :22.65 and :44.82. Sitting in the next flight were Vahva, the 1.05-1 favorite, and Scylla, the 2.85-1 second choice.
But Society struck before they could mobilize. Sweeping past the pacesetter rounding the turn, the 3.70-1 chance increased her margin to 3 1/4 lengths at the wire.
Society negotiated seven furlongs in 1:22, a tick or so slower than the Spa’s other Grade 1s on the card at the distance. Mullikin clocked 1:21.75 in the Forego (G1), and sophomore Domestic Product was fastest when finishing the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) in 1:21.71.
Scylla bested Vahva for runner-up honors by one length. Vahva tried to complete an exacta for sire Gun Runner, but she couldn’t land a serious blow while churning along the rail. Next came Positano Sunset in fourth, followed by Shidabhuti, Chi Town Lady, and Munnys Gold. Accede was scratched.
“She’s always had this kind of effort in her,” Gaffalione said of Society. “Just got a little unlucky last year, but we’ve always maintained confidence in her, and she proved us right today.
“This is a free-running filly. I just try to stay out of her way and get along with her. Steve (Asmussen) knows her best, and that’s kind of been the plan all along with her, so just try and get along.”
Society has compiled a record of 14-8-02, $1,839,535. As a three-year-old, the chestnut at times carried her speed around two turns, most devastatingly in the 2022 Cotillion (G1) and Charles Town Oaks (G3). But there was also evidence of stamina limitations, beginning with a remote fourth in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). A fading seventh in that fall’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), and a ninth in the 2023 La Troienne (G1), reiterated the idea that her future lay in shorter races.
Sticking to seven furlongs for the duration of her four-year-old campaign, Society crushed the 2023 Chicago by 10 3/4 lengths and added the Pink Ribbon S. back at Charles Town. She ended the year with a fourth in the Filly & Mare Sprint, and Blum decided to keep her in training for another swing at the championship event.
“She came back in training to get to the Breeders’ Cup,” Asmussen said. “(She) ran honorably last year, but we can run better, and that is the plan.
“Obviously, we are very appreciative to leave a Grade 1-winning mare in training, and the patience he has showed with her this year. I think she is better now than she has ever been, and today was a perfect place to showcase it.”
Giving up the routing experiments and focusing on the sprint division helped.
“I think that we’ve relaxed with who she is, been very direct with what races we are going to run her in,” Asmussen said, “and I think that gives her just a little bit more confidence.”
Her trainer added that “age and patience and stuff,” along with “a little more spacing with her works,” have all contributed to the improvement of Society.
“She’s just a beautiful filly that we are very fortunate to have to race.”
Out of the Tapit mare Etiquette, Society comes from the family of Canadian champion Holy Helena and Grade 2-winning sprinter Holy Boss. Society’s fifth dam is the influential matron Missy Baba.
