Vixen finishes full of run in Sweetest Chant S.
February 2, 2025
Vekoma got his newest stakes winner Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park when Vixen powered through the stretch to win the $165,000 Sweetest Chant S. by a widening 2 ¼-lengths.
The 3-year-old filly, who was a very close second in last year’s Natalma S. (G1) at Woodbine, was making her first start this year. She came out running and pressed La Gioconda through a half-mile in :47.04. The early leader began to falter on the turn, and Vixen willingly took command, then drew off in the stretch to finish the 1 1/16-miles in 1:40.32 on firm turf course.
“Perfect trip. I was hoping someone would show speed,” said jockey John Velazquez. “I kind of inherited the speed a little soon, but she was much the best.”
Vixen, who has made all five of her starts on the grass, is 2-1-1 and has earned $234,821 for owners D. J. Stable LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbreds. The bay filly sold for $200,000 at the 2024 OBS Spring 2-year-old sale and was bred in Kentucky by Jason Edward Howard.
The champion First-Crop sire of 2024, Vekoma is off to a hot start in 2025, already accounting for three stakes winners, four stakes horses, and 14 individual winners in the first month of the year.