Vekoma Brings Weaver Back Home for Kentucky Derby

Louisville native George Weaver was bitten by the horse racing bug at an early age. His father took him to the track, where he learned how to handicap the races, and if he wasn't attending the Kentucky Derby the first Saturday in May, there was a Derby party at his house. Coming up May 4, Weaver will top off his homecoming by taking his shot with Vekoma in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). 

R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables' Vekoma secured his spot with a win in the April 6 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, earning 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Candy Ride  colt took his first trip over Churchill Downs' main track May 1 after arriving the day before around 9:30 a.m. ET. Weaver's wife, Cindy Hutter, was aboard for the ride, while the trainer followed along on his pony while Vekoma stood in the gate and galloped. They made their way back to Barn 41 when the special 7:30-7:45 a.m. training session for Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) horses was over. 

Both Weaver and Hutter worked under Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas and Todd Pletcher, another to learn under Lukas. Having experienced the Derby with them and on his own in 2015, Weaver does not feel he is in unfamiliar territory as he attempts to check off a major goal in his career. Among the horses he helped develop were the respective 1995 and 1996 Derby winners Thunder Gulch and Grindstone, both trained by Lukas. Hutter galloped Thunder Gulch, as well as Lukas' 1988 Derby-winning filly Winning Colors.

"Even if I wasn't from here, this would be the ultimate goal for me," Weaver said as Vekoma was led out to graze on the Churchill Downs backside. "But I guess being from here even carries more significance. I think at least 95 percent of people would say the Derby is the race they wanted to win. There's some other big races on my bucket list, but if I can win this on Saturday, I'll be very, very happy."

Weaver had yet to graduate from Atherton High School—he admits to skipping school quite a few times for the races—when he began his journey toward becoming a trainer. He spent one summer on a small farm outside the city with Kenny Burkhardt, but the track was where he wanted to be.

"Once I had a little taste of the farm, I definitely was like, 'I need to go to the track. This is too slow for me, and there's too much fence fixing and stuff like that, mowing grass,'" Weaver said. "I'm like, 'I want to be around the action.'"

Weaver was soon walking hots for trainer John Hennig before working his way up to assistant trainer with Lukas and later Pletcher. He scored his first grade 1 under his own name in 2013 when Lighthouse Bay upset the Prioress Stakes (G1) at 21-1. The husband-and-wife duo base their stable on the East Coast.

"We've been doing this together for a long time, and she's very good at what she does," Weaver said. "Our son's been coming out, and he's been riding the pony. It's a team effort and we enjoy it."

Vekoma was a debut winner going six furlongs at Belmont Park Sept. 23 and placed himself on the Derby trail with a victory in the one-mile Nashua Stakes (G3) Nov. 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The chestnut was third in his sophomore debut, the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, behind fellow Derby contender Code of Honor. It was the first two-turn race for Vekoma. 

Weaver chose the Blue Grass as Vekoma's final prep. Guided by Javier Castellano, the colt pressed the pace and drew off to a 3 1/2-length victory over Win Win Win. Castellano will be back aboard Saturday as Vekoma breaks from post 6. He is 20-1 on the morning line.

Following the Blue Grass, Weaver had the option of keeping Vekoma in Kentucky or shipping him back to Palm Beach Downs in Delray Beach, Fla., to train. He reflected on his travel plans with Tencendur, his first Derby runner who finished 17th in 2015 behind eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah .

"The program that led us to the Blue Grass win was ship (Vekoma) right up from Florida. He's familiar with the track, my wife could get on him," Weaver said. "Tencendur a few years ago, I brought him in probably 12 days out, galloped him a few days, and breezed him on Saturday (a week before Derby). I thought the track kind of jarred him up a little bit, and he didn't have maybe the greatest week leading into the Derby, so I think you either get in here real early or come in here right on top of the race."

Vekoma turned in his final work for the Derby April 26 at Palm Beach Downs. He breezed five furlongs in :59.95, the fastest of eight works at the distance, before preparing to ship to a buzzing backside at Churchill Downs.

Weaver's return to his hometown has allowed him to visit with his parents and friends, as well as relive some of his favorite Derby memories.

"I remember I was here when Genuine Risk won in 1980. I was probably 9 or 10 years old then," he said. "I think one of my favorite Derbys was when Winning Colors won. I had not worked for Wayne yet, but watching her go to the wire and Forty Niner coming at the end, that was a big race, a lot of fun. Every Derby's special."

Weaver said he has been pinching himself every day since Vekoma's Blue Grass win.

"It's hard to believe it's happening," he added, "but we're just very fortunate to have a colt that could bring us here, and I'll probably keep pinching myself. Hopefully, I'm pinching myself Sunday morning."