Vequist starts cranking up for second half of year
SARATOGA SPRINGS N.Y, – Vequist, who used her easy victory in the Grade 1 Spinaway here last summer to help her become the juvenile filly champion, is back on the local scene prepping for what trainer Butch Reid Jr. hopes will be a successful second half to her 3-year-old campaign.
Vequist, who clinched her divisional title winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland, has started just once in 2021, finishing ninth as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 2 Davona Dale in late February at Gulfstream Park. She had not even had an official work until she breezed four furlongs in 47.87 seconds under jockey Frankie Pennington here Friday.
“It was kind of a hold-your-breath moment when she started off, because you’re never quite sure what they’ll do after all that time off until they do it,” Reid said. “But I was anticipating a good work, and she did all I expected and more.”
Reid said he sent Vequist to Fair Hill after the Davona Dale to give her some time off after she developed respiratory issues in Florida. Her return was delayed further due to foot issues that popped up.
“The foot problem set us back a little bit, but the layoff has done her a lot of good,” Reid said. “She put some weight on, all of which had a lot to do with the result we saw in her work this morning. She really only had some strong open gallops prior to today, this was her first real work, and I have to admit she’s further along than I had anticipated.”
Reid said Vequist’s first major goal is the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion on Sept. 25 at Parx Racing, and that he’d like to run her in a prep at Saratoga. She’s also eligible for a third-level allowance, he said.
About a half-hour before Vequist breezed, Reid sent Beren to go an easy half-mile under Pennington in 49.51 over a track that has been on the slow side in the mornings. Beren has won five of his last six starts, including stakes races moved from the turf to the main track in his last two outings.
“Just a little maintenance breeze today,” Reid said. “He’s had plenty of races under his belt.”
Reid said he nominated Beren for three races at Saratoga – the Curlin on July 30 and Jim Dandy on July 31, both at 1 1/8 miles, and the Amsterdam on Aug. 1 at 6 1/2 furlongs.
“He’s a very versatile horse,” Reid said. “Although I prefer to run him longer, I don’t want to run him in spots that look impossible. Right now, the Curlin is our No. 1 choice. We’ll just wait and see how the fields shape up.”
Reid didn’t waste much time getting his 2021 Saratoga season started, sending out Mainstay to finish second behind Pretty Birdie as the 6-5 favorite on opening day in the Grade 3 Schuylerville.
“Once she stumbled at the break, that was whole race right there,” Reid said. “She spotted the winner three lengths, and Frankie kind of had to use her the whole way. The track suddenly got deep the last few days and she’s pretty tired this morning, but otherwise I thought she ran great. She got a ton out of that race. We’ll probably skip the next stakes and point towards the Spinaway from here.”