3-Year-Old Nyquist Filly Pointed to $100,000 Safely Kept Nov. 27
Jockey J.D. Acosta Registers Friday Hat Trick in First Three Races

BALTIMORE – Mopo Racing’s undefeated 3-year-old filly Moquist passed another round of tests Friday, stepping up in class and showing a new dimension over an unfamiliar racetrack, to keep her perfect record intact with a 4 ½-length feature race victory at rainy Laurel Park.

Moquist ($3.60), still eligible for second-level allowance conditions, captured the stakes-quality, third-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up in 1:24.18 for seven furlongs over a sloppy and sealed main track to improve to 4-0. All of her wins have come against older horses.

“I’ve leaned on her. It’s not like she’s been cherry-picking all the way in these races,” winning trainer Dale Capuano said. “Her last two races have been solid races. We couldn’t be happier.”

By 2016 Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and 2015 juvenile male champion Nyquist, and bred in Maryland by trainer Katy Voss and the late Bob Manfuso, Moquist was racing over an off track for the first time after three front-running victories, the most recent just 13 days prior.

Breaking from Post 2 under Jorge Ruiz, Moquist yielded the early lead to an eager Dontletsweetfoolya, the 4-year-old multiple stakes winner making her first start since June 13. Dontletsweetfoolya held a one-length advantage through a quarter-mile in 23.26 seconds, with Moquist tracking along the rail until edging up and matching strides entering the far turn, forging a head lead after a half in 46.73.

The top two dueled around the turn before Moquist took command once straightened for home, going six furlongs in 1:11.11 and drawing away through the lane. Dontletsweetfoolya was a clear second, 4 ¼ lengths ahead of stakes-placed Lookin Dynamic. Needs Supervision, a multiple stakes winner racing for the first time in 237 days, and Bluefield completed the order of finish.

“I knew she didn’t have to be in front, so it all worked out well. It seemed like she handled the slop OK, so I guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Capuano said. “Jorge said he had plenty of horse when he got back, which was pretty much what I figured.”

Purchased for $50,000 as a yearling at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium in October 2019, Moquist went unraced at 2 before making her debut with a 1 ¼-length maiden special weight triumph gong 6 ½ furlongs Sept. 5 during the State Fair meet. Each of her last three races have come at seven-eighths, including a restricted allowance Sept. 24 at Laurel.

Capuano plans to use Friday’s race as a stepping-stone to the $100,000 Safely Kept for 3-year-old fillies Nov. 27 at Laurel. The seven-furlong sprint is one of five stakes worth $450,000 in purses over Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 26 and 27.

“Hopefully she comes back good and we go in the Safely Kept. That’s been my plan. It gives us about a month to that race, so it’s perfect timing,” Capuano said. “It’s all good. If she stays healthy, hopefully we’ll have some fun with her.”

Notes: Jockey J.D. Acosta registered a natural hat trick in sweeping Friday’s first three races aboard Song of Honor ($4.40), Dontcrossfuzzy ($4.60) and Acadian Girl ($14), his only mounts on the card … Jockey Johan Rosado doubled with Award Nominated ($18.60) in Race 5 and San Antone ($25.60) in Race 7. Both Song of Honor and San Antone are trained by Claudio Gonzalez … Also riding two winners Friday was Jorge Ruiz, on Moquist ($3.60) in Race 4 and Hunter Joe ($20.60) in Race 8.