Blue Grass Biggest Test Yet for Lightly Raced Vekoma

Entering Vekoma in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) off just three starts wasn't the master plan of trainer George Weaver, but the conditioner is comfortable enough with the talent level of the Candy Ride  colt to send him out for the 1 1/8-mile race April 6 at Keeneland.

That talent will be tested in the Blue Grass, a Road to the Kentucky Derby race that awards qualifying points to the top four finishers (100-40-20-10) and has attracted 14 entries.

A late foaling (May 22), some minor setbacks, and the connections' desire to not have the colt peak too early in the spring has resulted in a light workload for Vekoma, who races for Gatsas Stable and R. A. Hill Stable. And while a few more races might be ideal, the connections like what they've seen so far: a debut maiden win at Belmont Park in September, a clear victory in the one-mile Nashua Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack to close 2018, and a promising 2019 debut when third in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) March 2 at Gulfstream Park.

The Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles was the first two-turn effort for Vekoma and his first start in nearly four months, which gives his connections optimism that he will move forward Saturday. Since the Fountain of Youth, Vekoma has worked three times at Palm Beach Downs, including a five-furlong breeze March 30 in 1:00.56.

"He's still learning about us, and we're still learning about him," Weaver said. "But he's been training well in preparation for this start."

Weaver is enjoying those daily sessions with the colt who has shown talent from the start and a knack for finding good race position. In stretching out to 1 1/8 miles for the first time Saturday, Vekoma, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, will start from post 2. Jockey Javier Castellano will be aboard for the first time in the afternoon; the multiple Eclipse Award winner guided Vekoma in the March 30 breeze.

"Growing up in Louisville (Ky.) as a student of the Derby, I'd prefer he have more seasoning, be battled-hardened. That can be helpful in a race like the Derby—a lightly raced horse like Justify  winning that race is truly special," Weaver said.

That said, the trainer isn't trading places with anyone, noting that Vekoma's intelligence, understanding of racing, and natural ability could help his colt Saturday and going forward.

While the connections of Vekoma hope he can thrive while also gaining experience, Signalman brings a relative wealth of graded stakes familiarity—and success. The son of 2009 Blue Grass Stakes winner General Quarters won last year's Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs and placed in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill as well as the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) in his previous Keeneland start.

Like Vekoma, Signalman will look to improve off a 2019 debut in the Fountain of Youth, where he finished seventh. Trainer Ken McPeek suspects a too-fast work ahead of that race and throwing a shoe contributed to the colt's first off-the-board effort.

Two-time Blue Grass winner McPeek said the large field Saturday gives him some concern, but he expects to see improvement in Signalman's second start of 2019.

"I'm surprised (it is a field of 14). I think there are some horses that are taking some big shots, and I hope that doesn't get in my horse's way to get a chance to run his race," McPeek said. "He needs points—he needs to be third or better. I'm pretty confident he can do that, but if he gets behind traffic with a horse that doesn't belong, that's kind of what you have to deal with. But he beat a 14-horse field at Churchill in the Kentucky Jockey Club. This horse can overcome a lot, and he's doing extremely well, too."

While that pair enters off the Fountain of Youth, Live Oak Plantation's Win Win Win leads a group of four who started in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) March 9. Trained by Michael Trombetta, the Pasco Stakes winner is the second choice on the morning line at 7-2. Also entered out of that 1 1/16-mile test at Tampa Bay Downs are fifth-place finisher Sir Winston, seventh-place Admire, and 10th-place Dream Maker, who was bumped and steadied early.

The biggest wild card in Saturday's race is Sky Chai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable's Somelikeithotbrown, who showed class in finishing third in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) on the Churchill grass and winning this year's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the all-weather surface at Turfway Park. The son of dual classic winner Big Brown  finished off the board in his lone dirt start, but that was on a sloppy track at Saratoga Race Course in his career debut going just 5 1/2 furlongs.

Entries: Toyota Blue Grass S. (G2)

Keeneland, Saturday, April 06, 2019, Race 10

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $1,000,000
• 3 yo
• 6:23 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Somelikeithotbrown (NY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	Michael J. Maker	10/1
2	2Vekoma (KY)	Javier Castellano	123	George Weaver	9/5
3	3Signalman (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	123	Kenneth G. McPeek	5/1
4	4Market King (KY)	Jon Kenton Court	123	D. Wayne Lukas	20/1
5	5Chess Chief (VA)	Paco Lopez	123	Dallas Stewart	30/1
6	6Dream Maker (KY)	Florent Geroux	123	Mark E. Casse	12/1
7	7Admire (KY)	Robby Albarado	123	Dale L. Romans	15/1
8	8Win Win Win (FL)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	123	Michael J. Trombetta	7/2
9	9Sir Winston (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	123	Mark E. Casse	15/1
10	10Lucky Lee (KY)	Chris Landeros	123	John C. Servis	20/1
11	11So Alive (KY)	Luis Saez	123	Todd A. Pletcher	15/1
12	12Parsimony (PA)	Mario Gutierrez	123	Doug F. O'Neill	20/1
13	13Moonster (KY)	John McKee	123	Dale L. Romans	30/1
14	14Aquadini (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	123	Dallas Stewart	30/1