Vixen flies home in the Sweetest Chant (Coglianese)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — D. J. Stable LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Vixen, sixth of 14 following a wide trip in the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar, made an auspicious 2025 debut in the $165,000 Sweetest Chant Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The Grade 1 stakes-placed daughter of Vekoma rolled to a 2 1/4-length victory with the need of only mild encouragement from Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. Trained by Hall of Fame Mark Casse, Vixen was sent to post as the 4-5 favorite in a field of six.
The Sweetest Chant, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, was the first of five stakes for sophomores on a 12-race program that featured the $265,000 Holy Bull (G3), a 1 1/16-mile early prep on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1), and the $165,000 Forward Gal (G3), a seven-furlong early prep for fillies on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G3).
Vixen broke alertly to closely stalk pacesetter La Gioconda, who set solid fractions of 23.32 and 47.04 (seconds) for the first half mile over a firm course. Velazquez loosened the reins a bit on the far turn and the Kentucky-bred filly responded by easily taking a clear lead into the stretch. With two challengers on the outside and 9-5 second choice Correto advancing on the inside, Velazquez asked Vixen for her kick, and she quickly spurted away to a comfortable victory.
Vixen ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.32 to record her first stakes victory. After finishing third in her debut, she graduated by 4 1/2 lengths at Ellis Park Aug. 19. She came right back to finish second, beaten by just a neck, in the Sept. 14 Natalma (G1) at Woodbine before racing evenly while five-wide in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Ramsey Pond out-finished Correto, who had finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf prior to a disappointing fifth in the Jan. 4 Ginger Brew at Gulfstream, to finish second by three-quarters of a length.
Nick Tomlinson, assistant to winning trainer Mark Casse (Vixen): “[Jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] did a great job. At the quarter-pole, I saw her prick her ears a little bit. I asked Johnny, ‘Either you were really confident or you weren’t sure if you had enough horse left.’ He said when she got to the front she started looking around, but she’s still learning. It’s a good performance to come back and build for the future.”
“Very talented filly. She’s kind of been in Nitrogen’s shadow, but it’s a good problem to have. We’ll see what happens. Around this time we start looking to gear up for Keeneland. Where the next step we take is is to be decided.”
Jockey John Velazquez (Vixen): Perfect trip. I was hoping someone would show speed. Graham’s filly had some speed. Obviously, Javier’s filly had speed. I kind of inherited the speed a little soon, but she was much the best.”
