Nyquist filly soars at Sunland

Flying Connection wins the Island Fashion by eight

Nyquist's three-year-old daughter Flying Connection led wire-to-wire in the Island Fashion Stakes at Sunland Park on February 28th, winning by nine and one-quarter lengths.

Flying Connection broke well under jockey Alfredo Juarez and made the lead going into the first turn in the one-mile dirt contest. She maintained a one-length lead down the backstretch before pulling away through the stretch to win easily as the 1-5 odds-on favorite. 

A breathtaking 15 1/4-length maiden winner in November, Flying Connection jumped straight into Stakes company next and scored by three and one-quarter lengths in the Zia Princess Stakes at Zia Park on November 22nd, before finishing third in the Borderplex Stakes at Sunland in her most recent start on January 29th.

A $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Flying Connection was bred in Kentucky by Liberty Road Stables. She is out of the multiple Stakes winner and G1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint-third Free Flying Soul, by former Darley stallion Quiet American. Second dam Ruby Surprise won the G2 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs along with the G3 Turfway Breeders' Cup Stakes at Turfway Park.

The leading first-crop sire of 2020, Nyquist is #1 on the cumulative fourth-crop sires list by G1 horses (9), Graded Stakes horses (22) and Black Type horses (43).

Nyquist stands at Jonabell Farm for a fee of $55,000 in 2023.