August 21, 2025
She arrives in the bank with $ 2.5 million. She is the defender of the race. She has won 21 times in her shimmering career.
So why is free as a girl 5-1 on the morning line and the third choice in the $ 250,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes on Friday in Charles Town?
That’s because the presence of the last two degrees 2 Charles Town Oaks Heroines, Vahva (3-5) and Mystic Lake (8-5). The first, the winner of Oaks 2023, has since won one races of class 2 and two degrees 2. Earlier this year, the latter won the grade 2 Inside Information and arrives from Minor Stakes victories in Lone Star Park and Delaware Park.
A six-year-old El Deal Mare trained by Chasey Deville Pomier who, together with Gerald Bruno, JR and Carl J. Deville, is the talented spin owner by Gerald Bruno. But she has 21 victories and more than $ 2.5 million gave from 52 career trips, all of which are the highest among the four horses that are planned for the pink ribbon.
She won the 2024 edition of the Pink Ribbon, two years after the second place in the Charles Town Oaks in what only two outings lands over the strip. That 2022 Oaks went to society, who then became a winner of several graded stakes and surpassed Vahva in last year’s degree 1 ballerina in the Spa.
Yet Free Like A Girl is no stranger to degree 1 enemies, which this year finished twice as second to rule Horse of the Year Thordedo Ann in Oaklawn Park, including in class 1 Apple Blossom. All her earlier starts this year have come in graded commitment.
“She was running very well this year and we really hope that at some point she will win a graded bet,” Pomier said on Wednesday. “She was well run in her two previous starts in Charles Town, who looks a lot like Delta Downs where she is training. They are both smaller songs and she seems to like it there. When I called the racing office to come in, I was surprised to hear that there were only three others in the racing.
Free as a girl won three more commitment after catching the pink ribbon last summer, two of them at Delta Downs and two against fellow restricted, Louisiana-Foked company. But her campaign from 2025 consists of traveling to be confronted with Graded Betting with one race in Sam Houston, three more in Oaklawn Park and then her two most recent starts at Churchill Downs.
“She really made us proud, especially for a Louisiana bred to compete in Graded Stakes in Oaklawn,” said Pomier. “We had a great time to see her compete in that dedicated bets and she really held her own. One day we want to make sure she will get a graded bet.”
Brian Hernandez, Jr. will be in the irons.
Vahva, who won the 2023 edition of the Oaks, has since won the 1 Derby City Distaff grade and a few degrees 2 races, the Raven Run in Keeneland and, last from the Chicago in Churchill Downs.
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A five-year-old gun runner Mare trained by Cherie Devaux, VAHVA has a 7-3-3 slate and simply shy of $ 2 million of 17 career trips and retains the services of Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Will save both Mystic Lake and the time (15-1). Just like Vahva, Mystic Lake scored in the Charles Town Oaks in her only previous outing about the CT strip. The characteristic victory of Mystic Lake since last year’s Oaks came in the class 2 Inside Information in Gulfstream Park, and she comes a victory over tense foot of 1-20-in the boisterous beauty in Delaware Park, where she only had two rivals. Tyler Gaffalione is mentioned for driving.
Save Time will make her local debut and blink. Luis Saez will ride. She is against it in this area.
Free if a girl, Mystic Lake and Vahva have combined to win three of the four starts and about $ 1.25 million in Charles Town. The pink ribbon marks the first time they will face each other.
Free if a girl was a purchase of $ 5,500 as a yearling, so she has earned almost $ 500 for every dollar spent to buy her. Pomier is looking forward to the coming challenge of her mare.
‘She trained really well [at Ellis Park] And she loves the track, “she said.” There are only four horses in that on Friday, but it was really tough. ‘
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