Vekoma Delivers Dominating Performance in Blue Grass
Image:
Description:
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
(L-R): Randy Hill leads Vekoma and Javier Castellano with co-owner Michael Gatsas after winning the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland
Vekoma appears to be a 3-year-old peaking at just the right time.
Stretching out to 1 1/8 miles for the first time proved to the chestnut colt's liking as he took command off the final turn and drew off to a 3 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 6 at Keeneland. The track enjoyed a record crowd for an opening weekend Saturday of 34,775.
Gatsas Stables and R.A. Hill Stable's Vekoma completed the test in 1:50.93 under jockey Javier Castellano, who secured his fourth stakes win since the start of the meet. The son of Candy Ride is trained by George Weaver, who grew up in Louisville, Ky.
"I've won a lot of big races, but this is probably the biggest," said Weaver, recalling days in his youth when his father would take him out of school to attend the races at the Lexington track. "Keeneland and this race are special to me."
Win Win Win rallied for second, just edging third-place Signalman.
Favored Vekoma paid $4.80, $3.20, and $2.60. Win Win Win returned $4 and $3.20, and Signalman returned $3.60.
Owner Randy Hill said he hadn't slept since Wednesday, anticipating a big run from the colt. Vekoma won both his juvenile starts, including a clear victory in the Nashua Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. In his 3-year-old debut, he finished third in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
"This is a horse who has done everything right," Hill said. "The Fountain of Youth was his first race in four months, so it made sense he would need that one."
In Saturday's race, Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Somelikeithotbrown broke well from the rail and seized the early lead through a half-mile in :47.03 while closely tracked by Vekoma. Those two continued well into the far turn, but Vekoma put away the early leader out of the turn and quickly opened up on the field. He was not seriously tested in the stretch.
The Blue Grass awards Road to the Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers (100-40-20-10), meaning that photo for second could play big as Win Win Win locked up a spot in the Louisville classic with 50 points earned.
Roadster locked up a Derby spot with his Santa Anita Derby (G1) win. Signalman ranks 18th (38 points), and Arkansas Derby (G1) probable Omaha Beach is 19th, a bubble spot with points races remaining April 13: the Arkansas Derby (100-40-20-10) and the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) (20-8-4-2) . The Derby is limited to 20 starters, and one of those slots will be taken by Japan points qualifier Master Fencer.
Bred in Kentucky by Alpha Delta Stables, Vekoma was purchased by R.A. Hill Stable for $135,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Lane's End, agent. Vekoma is out of grade 1 winner Mona de Momma, a Speightstown mare who has produced two starters, both winners.