Vixen has to work hard but prevails as heavy favorite in Herecomesthebride
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Vixen had to work harder than her backers and connections thought, but she prevailed nonetheless, winning Saturday’s Grade 3, $205,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by a neck at Gulfstream Park.
Vixen outfinished Mrs Worldwide, a 31-1 longshot who was trying the turf for the first time and ran terrific, finishing a head in front of 87-1 Daisy Flyer. It was a nose to Classic Q in fourth.
Civetta finished fifth, followed by Ramsey Pond, Grade A, Bellavino, and Special Advisor. Smudge was scratched.
Vixen was sent off the 4-5 favorite based on her authoritative 2 1/4-length victory in the Sweetest Chant here on Feb. 4. That, and aside from Civetta, who won the Wait A While here in November, the race lacked depth.
Under John Velazquez, Vixen broke sharp but settled into third as Grade A went to the lead stalked by Mrs Worldwide through a quarter in 22.97 seconds for the quarter and a half-mile in 46.51 seconds.
Vixen made a move around the turn and looked poised to take charge turning for home. But Velazquez said when he asked Vixen to run, “she didn’t know what to do,” Velazquez said.
Velazquez kept working on Vixen, who ultimately did get by a stubborn Mrs Worldwide for the victory.
“I didn’t want to be in a speed duel with the other two horses,” Velazquez said. “She surprised me when I let her go it took a long time to go past the horses on the lead.”
Vixen, a daughter of Vekoma owned by D J Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trained by Mark Casse, covered the mile over firm turf in 1:33.57, returned $3.60 as the favorite, and earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.
“Maybe she bounced a little off her first performance,” said Casse, who won his second straight Herecomesthebride and fourth overall. “I thought today was good, but hopefully she moves on from this.”
Casse also ran Classic Q who was stepping up from a maiden win to face winners and she ran well from off the pace to finish fourth, beaten a half-length.
“I thought Classic Q was going to be on the lead or close to it, but she got away bad,” Casse said. “She ran a hell of a race to be fourth.”
Casse said Vixen would point to the Grade 2, $500,000 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland on April 5.
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