6th-Fair Grounds, $55,000, Msw, 2-15, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.43, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
AHAVAH (f, 3, City of Light–Holiday Soiree {SW & GISP, $405,642}, by Harlan’s Holiday) overcame a bit of a sluggish dispatch and held off a persistent late challenge from fellow well-tried first-starter Unwavering Trust (Nyquist) to take the second division of the 3-year-old filly six-furlong maiden Saturday afternoon at the Fair Grounds. A bit flat-footed at the break, the $400,000 Keeneland September yearling, whose half-sister Vahva (Gun Runner, $1,802,810) won last year’s GI Derby City Distaff, mustered for pace at the rail, took command and covered the first couple of furlongs in :21.49, slightly faster than the same split in race four. Going along nicely on the turn, Ahavah held the call into the stretch, was confronted by Unwavering Trust with a furlong and a half to race and dug in resolutely to prevail. The final time of 1:10.43 was 0.57 slower than the time recorded by the debuting Velvet Vortex in the first division. Also a half-sister to Signal From Noise (Arrogate), GSP, $250,790, Ahavah is out of a half-sister to Marquee Prince (Cairo Prince), a two-time stakes winner over the local turf course and Grade III-placed at Churchill Downs; and to the dam of MSW Miss Justify (Justify). Holiday Soiree is also responsible for the 2-year-old filly Where Luck Lives (Nyquist), a $725,000 FTSAUG purchase by Flying Dutchmen last summer, and a yearling full-sister to Ahavah. The mare is due to Gun Runner for 2025. Sales history: $400,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $33,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

O-Twin Brook Stables, Glassman Racing LLC, Belladonna Racing LLC, Woodford Racing LLC, BCWT Ltd & Taylor Creek; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux.