Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Vequist to get break in Florida

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Vequist emerged from her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in good order and will soon head to Florida for about 45 days of rest, trainer Butch Reid reported early Saturday at Keeneland.

“She’ll soak up some sun and pick on some grass,” said Reid, who trains Vequist for the three-way partnership of Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and Thomas McGrath.

Vequist got a terrific ground-saving ride from Joel Rosario when rallying for a two-length triumph in the $2 million BC Juvenile Fillies, part of the Future Stars Friday program run without the general public being permitted admission because of the ongoing pandemic. The Juvenile Fillies typically produces the Eclipse Award winner in the division.

“We had full confidence in the horse and the rider,” Reid said. “This is my second Breeders’ Cup win,” following Afleet Again in the 2011 Marathon, “but this was really a special one because she’s a homebred and I was able to do it for [breeder] Tom McGrath and Gary Barber and Adam Wachtel. It makes it extra special.”

Vequist will reside for the next six weeks or so at the Eisaman Equine facility of Dr. Barry Eisaman near Ocala, Fla., before joining Reid’s winter string at Palm Meadows or Gulfstream Park.

“Four starts as a 2-year-old is plenty for me, and we got her stretched around two turns, which is what I wanted,” Reid said.

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Vequist now has won two Grade 1 races from four overall starts, with the Spinaway at Saratoga being her other win. The daughter of Nyquist effectively turned the tables on the runner-up in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile Fillies, Dayoutoftheoffice, who had defeated her in their prior meeting in the Grade 1 Frizette last month at Belmont Park.

The respective 2-3-4 finishers in the Juvenile Fillies were separated by mere inches, with front-running Dayoutoftheoffice holding second by a nose over Girl Daddy, who in turn had a nose on Simply Ravishing. Princess Noor, the 19-10 favorite in a field of seven, was another 2 1/2 lengths back in fifth.

Dayoutoftheoffice came out of the race in good shape and also will get a brief timeout, trainer Tim Hamm said. Girl Daddy “looks great,” trainer Dale Romans said Saturday morning. Simply Ravishing, who had the toughest trip of the group after stumbling at the start, losing valuable position into the first turn, “just had some bad luck” but is otherwise fine, train Ken McPeek said.

Each of the top four finishers all will winter in Florida, while Princess Noor is headed back to California with trainer Bob Baffert. The Kentucky Oaks next May is the first major target for them all.