Vequist Strikes Late in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Trainer Butch Reid has noticed that Vequist doesn't mind racing inside, and that affinity proved useful Nov. 6 as she punched through in the stretch on her way to a two-length victory in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland.

One start after chasing Dayoutoftheoffice around the track before settling for second to that rival in the Oct. 10 Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and breeder Swilcan Stable's Vequist turned the tables in the first try at two turns for both fillies. Reid said though they came up short at Belmont, he was looking forward to stretching out the daughter of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Nyquist  to two turns.

"The way she finished in the Frizette, it absolutely gave me confidence," said Reid, who also won the 2011 Breeders' Cup Marathon (G2) with Afleet Again. "To be able to compete against horses of that level made me feel really good."

Under a perfectly timed move by jockey Joel Rosario, Vequist, who tracked from second or third throughout, took command near the 16th pole and drew off late. Dayoutoftheoffice just held second over Girl Daddy.

Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) winner Simply Ravishing, one of several fillies in the seven-horse field with early speed, bobbled at the start from her inside post while Dayoutoftheoffice quickly established a clear advantage under Junior Alvarado. Dayoutoftheoffice, a daughter of Into Mischief , maintained the advantage through a half-mile in :47.12 and six furlongs in 1:11.32 while Vequist tracked inside and 9-5 favorite Princess Noor stalked outside.

"She ran really hard. We're proud of her. No complaints," said Tim Hamm, the trainer of Dayoutoftheoffice. "We had a decent trip on the front end. Not a ton of pressure—no excuses. We talked about the race earlier, and we said if no one goes, I didn't mind seeing her on the lead. She has a lot of natural speed and does it fairly easy, so it didn't shock me." 

Princess Noor, an undefeated grade 1 winner entered in her first start outside of Southern California, launched her move coming out of the far turn but steadied and faded to fifth. Vequist was able to sustain her move, which she launched in early stretch. Princess Noor's trainer, Bob Baffert, said the daughter of Not This Time  didn't show her best.

"She was in a good spot, he had her in a perfect spot there, but she just didn't kick on," Baffert said. I'm pretty disappointed. She just came up empty. I had a lot of confidence in her, but the winner ran a big race. They were going pretty fast. She just didn't have it." 

Rosario said racing inside can be a challenge for young horses, but Vequist proved tough enough.

"I tried to save ground. It was hard for her in the turn because I had a horse outside me. But she did great," said Rosario, who posted his 12th Breeders' Cup victory and second in the Juvenile Fillies. "I never gave up my position. As soon as I asked her, she went on with it. It was a very good performance." 

Trainer Dale Romans liked Girl Daddy's effort.

"She ran super. I thought we had a chance turning for home. She ran a big race," Romans said. "She didn't have the cleanest trip, but I am happy with her. She got hung a little wide; it wasn't anyone's fault, it is just the way the race unfolded." 

Vequist returned $15.20, $6.80, and $4.40; Dayoutoftheoffice paid $5.20 to place and $3.60 to show; and Girl Daddy returned $3.80 to show.

Barber, who joined Adam Wachtel to buy in after Vequist's runner-up debut at Parx Racing, said he talked it over with Wachtel and they decided that because Reid knew her best, it made sense to leave the filly with him. That decision paid immediate dividends as she won the Spinaway Stakes (G1) in her next start Sept. 6 at Saratoga Race Course.

"I was really, really adamant, and I'm glad that we keep her with Butch," Barber said. "Adam and I discussed that. He knows her better than anybody else."

Bred in Kentucky, Vequist is the first stakes winner among three starters—all winners—out of grade 2-placed Vero Amore, by Mineshaft . Reid, who also conditioned Vero Amore, appreciated that the new ownership group kept the talented filly with him.

"From the start, she's shown she has no limits," Reid said. "The first time I breezed her out of the gate back at Parx, we were just supposed to go an easy half a mile. When she went :48, 1:12, and 1:25, we had a pretty good idea that she can go click off 12-second eighths almost endlessly."

The victory will provide a lift to Nyquist, who entered the day atop the first-crop sires list but was in a close battle with Not This Time. 

Video: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)