(2021 bay mare by Maximus Mischief out of Deceive, by Tiznow)
Velvet Vixen is a daughter of the talented 2YO Maximus Mischief, much in the mold of her sire. She is very tall, long-legged and long-bodied — yet she was quick enough, despite her size, to go wire-to-wire over 4-1/2 furlongs first-time out in July of her 2YO season (in maiden special weight company no less). Unlike Maximus Mischief, Velvet Vixen went on to win races as both a 3YO and a 4YO, earning a total of $76,562 (she placed in six additional races, including once on turf). Those other wins came at 5 furlongs and 5-1/2 furlongs.
Velvet Vixen’s pedigree matches the win-early speed on the top half of her pedigree with a classically-inclined Phipps female family. Her dam, Deceive, is by the two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow and was bred by the Phippses from the Mr. Prospector mare Illicit. This makes Deceive (who finished 2nd in a Saratoga maiden special weight at 1-1/8 miles on turf as the highlight of her racing career) a half-sister to the Ohio Derby-G2 and Pennsylvania Derby-G2 winner Gone Astray, as well as to the G3-placed Contentious, who is, in turn, the granddam of British G2-winning 2YO Kessaar.
The unraced Illicit, meanwhile, is a half-sister to Eclipse Champion 3YO filly Smuggler, both of them being out of the Eclipse Champion, Breeders’ Cup Distaff-G1 winner, and Hall of Famer Inside Information (herself a half-sister to G1 winner and black-type producer Educated Risk, whose own descendants include recent G1 winners And One More Time and Simply In Front).
Velvet Vixen is a half-sister to three winners, including the $276k-earner Dannie’s Deceiver, five-time winner Navy Rules, and four-time winner Trappiza.
Velvet Vixen’s first breeding will be to leading Maryland sire Blofeld.
You can see more photos of her here.
Velvet Vixen breaks her maiden in her 2YO debut
Eight two-year-olds went 4.5 furlongs in race 7 at Parx. #7 VELVET VIXEN ($7) by Maximus Mischief goes gate-to-wire just holding off a fast closing #5 Peach Tea. Charlie Marquez was in the irons for Cathal Lynch.
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Gone Astray, a half to Velvet Vixen’s dam, wins the G2 Pennsylvania Derby
Velvet Vixen’s 3rd dam, Inside Information, wins the G1 BC Distaff