Vekoma proved that his quick debut victory over six furlongs at Belmont was the real deal with a convincing follow-up score in Sunday's GIII Nashua S. over a mile at Aqueduct. The son of Candy Ride (Arg) ran his record to a perfect two-for-two with a rallying victory over first-out Saratoga winner Network Effect.
Carried inward a bit at the start, Vekoma was allowed to settle just off the pace in a joint third as Factor It In (The Factor) and GII Saratoga Special S. hero and GI Champagne S. third-place finisher Call Paul (Friesan Fire) sparred through fractions of :22.53 and :45.29. Getting the first run on Network Effect, who was hemmed in to his inside, the chestnut ranged up a on the outside of the pacesetting pair turning for home and–despite racing greenly in upper stretch–drew clear to score by open lengths over Network Effect, who stayed on well to complete the exacta.
“The horse ran good,” said winning trainer George Weaver. “We expected him to run well–it was just a question of if he could get the mile distance. It set up nice. Manny [Franco] gave him a good ride sitting third behind a solid pace. When it came down to it, he made the run.”
Vekoma worked steadily at the Spa throughout September and reported home a decisive winner in his Sept. 23 debut–an effort which was flattered when runner-up Epic Dreamer (Orb) came back to capture a maiden special weight event at Belmont Oct. 26. and two also-rans returned to finish second in a pair of maiden heats earlier this weekend. Vekoma returned to Saratoga following that effort and posted three works in preparation for his stakes debut Sunday.
“We'll look at the [Dec. 1 GII] Remsen S. first, and as long as there's not a solid reason not to run him, we'll enter him there,” Weaver said when asked about future plans.
Pedigree Notes:
Vekoma's dam Mona de Momma (Speightstown) captured the GI Humana Distaff S. in 2010 and ultimately sold for $1,550,000 to Alpha Delta Stables at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. She is also responsible for Alpha Delta's 4-year-old filly Bloody Point (War Front), who recently added her third career victory from five starts in an Oct. 26 Belmont optional claimer. This is also the female family of influential sire Mr. Greeley (Gone West), as well as champion and current Darley stallion Street Sense (Street Cry {Ire}) and MGISW Paradise Woods (Union Rags).
Sunday, Aqueduct
NASHUA S.-GIII, $200,000, Aqueduct, 11-4, 2yo, 1m, 1:36.62, ft.
1–VEKOMA, 116, c, 2, by Candy Ride (Arg)&log=">Candy Ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Mona de Momma (GISW, $384,399), by Speightstown
2nd Dam: Society Gal, by Linkage
3rd Dam: Long Legend, by Reviewer
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($135,000
Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-R. A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables; B-Alpha
Delta Stables, LLC (KY); T-George Weaver; J-Manuel Franco.
$110,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $151,250.
Werk Nick Rating: B+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Network Effect, 116, c, 2, Mark Valeski–Sandy Key Gal, by
Put It Back. ($95,000 2yo '18 OBSAPR). O-Klaravich Stables,
Inc.; B-Louis Jolin (FL); T-Chad C. Brown. $40,000.
3–Call Paul, 122, c, 2, Friesan Fire–Avani Force, by Forestry.
($20,000 Ylg '17 EASOCT; $210,000 2yo '18 EASMAY).
O-Michael Dubb, David Simon, Bethlehem Stables LLC & Bruce
Irom; B-Beatrice Patterson & Vicky Schowe (PA); T-Jason
Servis. $24,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 7, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.05, 4.30, 2.55.
Also Ran: U S Navy Cross, Factor It In, Puttheglassdown. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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