Vixen Turns Heads in Sweetest Chant
By Pete Denk , Byron King and Molly Rollins BloodHorse
Vixen rebounded from a sixth-place finish in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) with a commanding victory in the $150,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Vixen, b, 3/f
Vekoma — Top Mission, by Noble Mission (GB)
Owner: D. J. Stable LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
Breeder: Jason Edward Howard (KY)
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Information provided by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Vekoma stands at Spendthrift Farm for $35,000 (2025).
Sale History
OBSAPR2024 • $200,000 • Consignor: SGV Thoroughbreds • Buyer: D.J. Stable.
KEESEP2023 • $22,000 • Consignor: Paramount Sales • Buyer: Simeon Mendozo.
KEEJAN2023 • $57,000 • Consignor: Highgate Sales • Buyer: Cooper Bloodstock.
Flanking a pacesetting La Gioconda through brisk early fractions of :23.32 and 47.04, the 8-5 favorite overhauled her rival down the backstretch and uncorked a powerful second wind down the lane as the field closed in. Clear by 2 1/4 lengths at the finish, Vixen ($3.60) stopped the timer in a sharp 1:40.32 for the 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course.
John Velazquez was aboard Vixen for trainer Mark Casse. She became second-crop sire Vekoma ‘s fourth stakes winner of 2025 with her first black-type score. The Spendthrift Farm stallion was the leading first-crop sire of 2024.
Ramsey Pond and Correto gave chase but couldn’t keep pace with the winner, settling for second and third, respectively.
A neck short of being a grade 1 winner in last year’s Natalma Stakes (G1T), Vixen registered her second win since breaking her maiden in August at Ellis Park. Campaigned by D. J. Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Vixen was purchased for $200,000 at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from the SGV Thoroughbreds consignment.