Xigera swept to the lead at the top of the lane and never looked back as she cruised to a three-and-a-half length victory in the G2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont at the Big A on Saturday, 28 October.
It was the first Graded Stakes victory for the three-year-old Nyquist filly, who also has wins in both the Tepin Stakes and Seneca Overnight Stakes. Xigera improved her overall record to 5-1-1 in nine career starts.
Breaking well out of the starting gate, Xigera tracked the pacesetting Undervalued Asset from second through the early stages of the nine-furlong dirt contest. Undervalued Asset continued to set a reasonable pace on the backstretch as Xigera kept within striking range of that rival, racing just a length or so behind.
Xigera began her move on the far turn, sweeping past the longtime frontrunner to take the lead at the top of the stretch. Kept to task by jockey Julien Leparoux, Xigera repelled a challenge from the late-running Defining Purpose in deep stretch, eventually drawing off to post an easy win.
Bred in Kentucky by Cedar Hill LLC, Xigera is out of Argent Affair, a Stakes-winning daughter of Black Tie Affair. In addition to Xigera, Argent Affair has produced Graded Stakes winner Forty Under (Uncle Mo) and Graded Stakes-placed Myriskyaffair (Verrazano).
Xigera continues the banner year being had by her sire Nyquist, who is also represented by G1 winners Randomized and Slow Down Andy, and Crimson Advocate, winner of the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. Both Randomized and Crimson Advocate are expected to start next in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Randomized) and G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Crimson Advocate).
Nyquist will stand the 2024 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $85,000, stands and nurses.
