Vequist (USA)
February 6, 2018 – Living
Nyquist (USA) x Vero Amore (USA), by Mineshaft (USA)
Family 1-o
February 6, 2018 – Living
Nyquist (USA) x Vero Amore (USA), by Mineshaft (USA)
Family 1-o
The first champion sired by 2015 American champion 2-year-old male and 2016 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Nyquist, Vequist was a seasoned runner by the standards of modern 2-year-olds with three starts under her belt at the time that she entered the starting gate for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1). She won decisively over a relatively small field of six rivals—four of them undefeated going into the race—in spite of having to come through on the inside, usually not a favorite spot for young horses.
Although it had looked good on paper, as far as turning out good 3-year-olds went, this field was nearly a bust; only one of the seven contestants managed a win beyond her juvenile season, and that one was not Vequist. Eased in her first start at 3, she returned to training during the summer but developed unspecified issues while working toward a comeback at Saratoga and was retired. Her owners’ decision to cash in at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale paid off as Vequist fetched US$3.4 million from Spendthrift Farm. She is now a young broodmare.
Race record
5 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,237,500
2020:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (2020)
As an individual
A good-sized dark bay or brown mare, Vequist had fine natural speed and plenty of grit.
As a producer
As of August 21, 2025, Vequist’s only named foal, the 2023 filly The Jeweler (by Into Mischief) has yet to race.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Vequist was bred and owned by Tom McGrath's Swilcan Stables. She was trained by Robert "Butch" Reid Jr. After her first race, Adam Wachtel and Gary Barber bought into Vequist, but Reid was retained as trainer at McGrath's insistence. The filly was ridden to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies by Joel Rosario. Vequist was purchased for US$3.4 million as a racing or broodmare prospect at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale by Spendthrift Farm, which promptly retired her and bred her to Into Mischief in 2022.
Pedigree notes
Vequist is inbred 5x4x5 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector and 5x5 to 1980 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Storm Bird. She is a half sister to 2022 Sorority Stakes winner Vedareo (by Daredevil).
Vero Amore, the dam of Vequist, reached her peak as a racehorse when she ran second in the 2014 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2). She was produced from Summers Edge, a winning daughter of 2004 Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner The Cliff’s Edge (by Gulch) and the winning Summer Squall mare Miss Summer Reign.
The next dam in Vequist’s tail-female line is Sultry Lass, a winning daughter of Private Account. A half sister to 2003 Musidora Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Cassis (by Red Ransom), she is out of listed stakes winner Minstress (by The Minstrel), whose half sister Alywin (by Alydar) is the second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Sunrise Pegasus. Produced from Fleet Victress (by 1954 Eclipse Stakes winner King of the Tudors), Minstress is also a half sister to Conquistadoria (by Conquistador Cielo), dam of restricted stakes winner My Sugar Magnolia (by Opening Verse).
Last updated: August 21, 2025
Although it had looked good on paper, as far as turning out good 3-year-olds went, this field was nearly a bust; only one of the seven contestants managed a win beyond her juvenile season, and that one was not Vequist. Eased in her first start at 3, she returned to training during the summer but developed unspecified issues while working toward a comeback at Saratoga and was retired. Her owners’ decision to cash in at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale paid off as Vequist fetched US$3.4 million from Spendthrift Farm. She is now a young broodmare.
Race record
5 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,237,500
2020:
- Won Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Frizette Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (2020)
As an individual
A good-sized dark bay or brown mare, Vequist had fine natural speed and plenty of grit.
As a producer
As of August 21, 2025, Vequist’s only named foal, the 2023 filly The Jeweler (by Into Mischief) has yet to race.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Vequist was bred and owned by Tom McGrath's Swilcan Stables. She was trained by Robert "Butch" Reid Jr. After her first race, Adam Wachtel and Gary Barber bought into Vequist, but Reid was retained as trainer at McGrath's insistence. The filly was ridden to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies by Joel Rosario. Vequist was purchased for US$3.4 million as a racing or broodmare prospect at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale by Spendthrift Farm, which promptly retired her and bred her to Into Mischief in 2022.
Pedigree notes
Vequist is inbred 5x4x5 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector and 5x5 to 1980 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Storm Bird. She is a half sister to 2022 Sorority Stakes winner Vedareo (by Daredevil).
Vero Amore, the dam of Vequist, reached her peak as a racehorse when she ran second in the 2014 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2). She was produced from Summers Edge, a winning daughter of 2004 Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner The Cliff’s Edge (by Gulch) and the winning Summer Squall mare Miss Summer Reign.
The next dam in Vequist’s tail-female line is Sultry Lass, a winning daughter of Private Account. A half sister to 2003 Musidora Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Cassis (by Red Ransom), she is out of listed stakes winner Minstress (by The Minstrel), whose half sister Alywin (by Alydar) is the second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Sunrise Pegasus. Produced from Fleet Victress (by 1954 Eclipse Stakes winner King of the Tudors), Minstress is also a half sister to Conquistadoria (by Conquistador Cielo), dam of restricted stakes winner My Sugar Magnolia (by Opening Verse).
Last updated: August 21, 2025