By Bill Finley
In her debut, Quickick (McKinzie) ran well to be third but couldn't overcome a slow beginning as she dropped 15 lengths off the pace in the early going. So trainer Tom Amoss added blinkers and jockey Dylan Davis made sure to stay close to the early pace. That made all the difference as Quickick broke her maiden in Sunday's seventh race at Saratoga, winning by 2 1/2 lengths.
Amoss also told Davis to try to get the filly to the outside where she wouldn't be bothered by the kickback. She broke from post one.
“I told him if she's not taking that dirt in the face move her out,” Amoss said. “Dylan did just that. When he did she kicked home nicely.”
Quickick was sent off as the 4-1 third-choice in the race as the money kept rolling in on two first-time starters, favorite Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) and second-choice Snowyte (Good Magic). Both ran well as Snowyte set the pace and Scottish Lassie was never far back in third. By mid-stretch Snowyte had taken a one-length lead and Scottish Lassie was right behind her. But the more experienced filly, Quickick, outran them all in the final sixteenth to earn the win.
“Having a race under your belt, knowing what to tell the rider and the rider having experience with the horse,” Amoss said. “That's the advantage of having a race under your belt.”
Owner Gregory Tramontin bought Quickick for $550,000 at the 2023 Keeneland sale. Amoss had some inside knowledge on the dam, as he trained her. She made 17 starts and won five races, including the GIII Winning Colors Stakes.
“Her mom, Graeme Six, was a little bitty girl,” Amoss recalled. “She came up to New York and placed in a Grade I stakes (the 2007 Prioress) and that made her a momma. She's been a really prolific momma. Quickick is is a great example of the babies she's had. Quickick is the polar opposite of her mom. She's tall and lengthy.”
Graeme Six (Graeme Hall) has had 11 foals and 10 of them are winners. The list includes Cali Star (Street Cry {Ire}), the winner of the 2015 GIII Rampart Stakes, and Delightful Joy (Tapit), the winner of the GIII Monmouth Oaks, also in 2015.
Amoss is eager to test his filly against tougher competition.
“We talk about it all the time,” he said. “I'll talk to the owner, Greg Tramontin. I know he is excited about her too. We would like to see how she competes with the other 2-year-old fillies in the nation going a little further distance and going two turns.”
Quickick covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.78 and paid $10.40. She was also sold at the 2022 Keeneland November sale, where she brought $275,000.
7th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 9-1, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:23.78, ft, 2 1/2 lengths.
QUICKICK (f, 2, McKinzie–Graeme Six {GSW & GISP, $338,854}, by Graeme Hall) recovered from a poor beginning to come on for third at odds of 4-1 in her debut over course and distance Aug. 11. Away at those same odds but racing with the addition of blinkers Sunday, the $550,000 Keeneland yearling got off to a better start and found herself mid pack behind Snowyte (Good Magic). With an inside trip that had her poised for a run off the turn, Quickick tipped outside of that pacesetter to get first jump with race favorite Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) moving with her, got up on even terms past the eighth pole and spurted clear late to deny the early leader by 2 1/2 lengths. The seventh winner for her freshman sire (by Street Sense), Quickick is out of $950,000 broodmare buy Graeme Six, already the producer of this winner's half-siblings Seymourdini (Bernardini), SW, $242,027, Cali Star (Street Cry {Ire}), GSW, $348,080 and Delightful Joy (Tapit), GSW, $179,200, who herself has produced GSW Window Shopping (American Pharoah). Graeme Six returned to McKinzie two subsequent times but after Quickick but failed to catch for both 2023 and 2024. She was bred to Olympiad for 2025. Sales History: $275,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $550,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $67,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Gregory Tramontin; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD & Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss.
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