Saratoga 2021: Speedy half-sis to Vequist starts in Schuylerville
When trainer Robert “Butch” Reid eyeballed the filly Vequist in the early stages of her development last season, he felt sure she would appreciate distance. That conviction proved to be accurate beyond his wildest dreams as she won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and was crowned 2-year-old champion.
Reid is not so sure what to think as he evaluates Mainstay, Vequist’s half-sister. They are both out of the Grade 2-winning Mineshaft mare Vero Amore, but the sire may make all the difference. The dark bay Vequist is by 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist while the bay Mainstay was produced by Astern, a crack Australian sprinter.
“It was obvious with Vequist that she would be able to get longer distances. That wasn’t going to be a problem,” the trainer said. “This filly has a little more of a sprinter look to her. We are going to try to stretch her out gradually, for sure.”
The connections should know more about Mainstay, owned by breeder Swilcan Stable and LC Racing, after she competes Thursday in the six-furlong, $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes (G3), the centerpiece of highly anticipated opening day at Saratoga.
Mainstay drew post 2 in a field of nine and will be piloted by Frank Pennington. She and Pretty Birdie are rated as the second choices at 7-2 on the morning line behind 8-5 favorite Happy Soul, a typically precocious juvenile from Wesley Ward’s barn. Happy Soul already is a stakes winner, having taken the Astoria at Belmont Park.
Mainstay was prepped at Eisaman Equine near Ocala. She has been a gem since her arrival at Parx, her home base.
“She progressed extremely quickly. Barry Eisaman did a great job with her down on the farm in Ocala,” Reid said. “She came to us in fine shape, and we went at it with her. She hasn’t missed a beat since.”
She dominated her 4 1/2-furlong debut by 7 3/4 lengths for Pennington on June 4 on a sloppy track at Monmouth Park.
For Reid that was an eye-opener.
“I don’t think you ever expect them to win by seven or eight or whatever she did win by,” he said. “We knew she had some talent. She’s always been precocious and quick away from the gate. A lot of times 4 1/2-furlong races for 2-year-olds are determined by the break. When she came out of there running, I thought we were in pretty good shape.”
Mainstay has produced bullet works in three of four drills at Parx since. She zipped five furlongs in 58.77 seconds July 3 in her most recent effort. She also breezed five furlongs from the gate in 1:00.02, ranking second of 26, on May 22. Reid noted that her breezes were “faster than I normally like.”
The very fast filly was vanned to Saratoga about two weeks ahead of the Schuylerville to acclimate to her surroundings. She has been overseen by Reid’s wife, Ginny, who began her career as a hot walker for legendary Secretariat.
If there has been any hiccup in preparations for the Schuylerville, it involves an inability to get a planned breeze over the track due to inclement weather.
“We gave her a couple of open gallops, and she’ll be fine,” Reid said. “She’s very happy and coming into the race very well.”
Whatever the Schuylerville brings, it should be an educational experience.
“It’s going to tell a lot. It’s not an easy spot, that’s for sure. It’s a pretty big field for a 2-year-old race. We certainly have our work cut out for us,” Reid said. “She’s going to have to be everything we think she is and a little more maybe.”