2020 Eclipse Awards: Dayoutoftheoffice

From the start, Dayoutoftheoffice was regarded by her connections as a special filly.

“She does everything just perfect,” said Tim Hamm, who trains and co-owns Dayoutoftheoffice under his Blazing Meadows Farm banner in partnership with the filly’s breeder, Siena Farm.

An easy, front-running score under Dylan Davis in her May 14 debut at Gulfstream Park led to the Grade 3 Schuylerville on July 16 at Saratoga. Bettors dismissed the filly at 19-1, but she won off like a heavy favorite, prevailing by six lengths and earning an 83 Beyer Speed Figure under Junior Alvarado, who retained the mount for the balance of the year.

“Once she broke good and put me in a good spot, I was for sure a smiling person all the way around,” Alvarado said after the Schuylerville. “I knew what I had under me, and she responded very well when I asked her turning for home.”

Dayoutoftheoffice further validated those first two races by giving Hamm the first Grade 1 victory of his 25-year training career, winning the Grade 1 Frizette on Oct. 10 at Belmont Park by two lengths over Vequist. She earned a 95 Beyer.

:: Full list of 2020 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

“It’s great, honestly, for our whole staff,” said Hamm. “When you have as many horses at this point, it’s a real team effort. I feel good for our staff and it means a lot to me personally.”

Dayoutoftheoffice was one of four unbeatens in a field of seven coming into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 6 at Keeneland. Although she had rallied from just off the pace in both the Schuylerville and Frizette, she led for most of the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile Fillies before settling for second by two lengths, overtaken in the final 100 yards by Vequist, who had finished second behind her as an odds-on favorite in the Frizette.

“I sort of made the lead by default,” said Alvarado. “She never seemed to settle on the lead, and I think that made the difference.”

Dayoutoftheoffice earned $556,500 in her four-race campaign as one of a slew of major winners in 2020 for her prolific sire, Into Mischief. The filly was produced by Gottahaveadream, by Indian Charlie.

Following the Breeders’ Cup, Dayoutoftheoffice was sent to Siena Farm in Paris, Ky., for a break, after which she was scheduled to rejoin Hamm in Florida to begin training toward preps leading into the April 30 Kentucky Oaks.