Spendthrift Acquires Breeding Rights to Vekoma

B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm has acquired the breeding rights to multiple grade 1-winning millionaire Vekoma, it was announced July 7. The 4-year-old son of leading sire Candy Ride  captured the prestigious Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) July 4 at Belmont Park, staking his claim as one of North America's top racehorses in 2020. In June he won the Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1).

An earner of $1,245,525 to date, Vekoma was bred in Kentucky by Alpha Delta Stables. He is out of the Speightstown  mare Mona de Momma, who scored her biggest win in the 2010 Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs. Vekoma's second dam, Society Gal, is a half sister to successful sire Mr. Greeley.

"We are extremely excited about Vekoma and his future as a stallion. It's not often you see an elite racehorse that is by a grade 1 winner and out of a grade 1 winner," said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. "Vekoma is a terrific blend of his sire Candy Ride and his Speightstown dam Mona de Momma, showing brilliance from six furlongs to a mile and an eighth and from ages 2 to 4. There's sire power throughout the pedigree, with Vekoma's second dam being a sister to Mr. Greeley. You just will not find a better bred son of Candy Ride.

"Vekoma proved he is one of the best horses in training with wins over good fields in the Carter and Met Mile, which have been two of the best performances we have seen this year. The combination of brilliance and pedigree is special."

Trained by George Weaver for owners R. A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables, Vekoma has always been one of the top racehorses in his crop, capturing graded stakes wins at 2, 3, and 4. After breaking his maiden at first asking in 1:08.93 for six furlongs at Belmont, the talented chestnut stretched out to win the one-mile Nashua Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, completing an undefeated juvenile campaign. At 3, Vekoma jumped onto the Triple Crown trail, finishing third to Code of Honor in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park in his seasonal debut. He went on to score a dominant 3 1/2-length win in the 1 1/8-mile Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, earning a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), where he finished 12th to conclude his sophomore season.

This year, Vekoma has been perfect in three starts, kicking off his 4-year-old season with a 3 3/4-length victory in the Sir Shackleton Stakes at Gulfstream in March. He earned his first grade 1 triumph with a dazzling 7 1/4-length win in the Carter at Belmont, earning a career-high 110 Beyer Speed Figure. Last Saturday, he validated his Carter performance with a front-running win in the aforementioned Met Mile, defeating grade 1 winners Code of Honor and McKinzie, among others, while stopping the clock in a crisp 1:32.88—just :0.15 off the stakes record for the 129-year-old fixture in New York.

"Vekoma has been an outstanding talent since the moment we got him. He's such a special horse," said Weaver. "We will take our time to enjoy this win, but Saratoga is the likely next place for him to run. We would like to put the horse in a position to become a champion."

Vekoma is the third Met Mile winner in the last four years that will take up stud duty at Spendthrift. Mor Spirit , the 2017 winner, and Mitole , the 2019 winner, both stand at the historic Lexington farm.