It is a spectacle unlike any other. Twenty of the world’s greatest three-year-old thoroughbreds coming together to join battle on the first Saturday in May. Soon the aristocratic athletes will gather beneath the legendary Twin Spires to compete for the coveted roses before an ocean of screaming people. It will be the first time any of these horses have seen a crowd so large. It will be the first time any of these horses will travel the taxing distance of 1 ¼ miles. And it will be the only time that this elite group of three-year-olds will have the chance to etch their name into Kentucky Derby history.
It is easy to get caught up in the hype of some of the big-name horses that are coming into this year’s edition of the Kentucky Derby. Omaha Beach, Roadster, Game Winner, Maximum Security and Tacitus are some of the names that seem to be playing on repeat out of the mouths of fans. And while each of these colts have a strong chance to take home the glory, and are very deserving to be among the favorites, it is wise to look beyond the obvious and consider some of the longer shots in the field. In a twenty-horse race, anything can happen. Very talented horses are going to get overlooked and dismissed at higher odds than they deserve, simply because of the overwhelming field size that the Kentucky Derby possesses. One horse that comes to mind in this situation is the fleet-footed chestnut, Vekoma.
Vekoma entered the world on May 22, 2016 at Lanes End Farm in Versailles, KY. By Candy Ride-the very sire that is responsible for producing 2017 Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) champion, Gun Runner- Vekoma is out of the Speightstown mare, Mona de Momma. A winner of five races from thirteen starts, including a score in the Las Flores Handicap (G3), Mona de Momma is best known for her victory in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff. Her victory that day took place in the slop on the undercard of the 2010 Kentucky Derby. When Mona de Momma splashed her way to victory that day, no one could have guessed that nine years later her son would be competing on the same track, in America’s greatest race.
Despite the fact that Vekoma was born from high-class parents, life didn’t come without its challenges. The crimson-colored colt suffered through an illness early in life. Luckily for Vekoma, he was born with a fighting spirit, and was able to overcome his illness, proving early on that he was not only a strong colt, but a tough one too.
Vekoma, who was still unnamed at the time, went on to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2017. The small colt didn’t attract the flashy price that his regal breeding suggested, but still commanded a solid price of $135,000. The colt was purchased by R.A. Hill Stable and Gastas Stables, and was officially dubbed, Vekoma, after a Dutch roller coaster manufacturing company.
Vekoma was placed in the care of trainer, George Weaver, and began his new life on the track with the upmost enthusiasm. The plucky youngster took everything in stride, never hesitating to flaunt his speed or rise to the challenge. It became apparent from the start of his training that Vekoma had heart and an undeniably competitive spirit. The colt clearly loved what he was born to do.
On September 23, 2018 the time came for Vekoma to prove his speed and heart outside of the training track. The intrepid colt entered a six-furlong maiden special weight at Belmont Park, where he left his competitors in the dust. The nimble chestnut soared across the track with breathtaking speed, stopping the clock in a scorching final time of 1:08.93.
Vekoma made his next appearance in November, in the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct. Once again, the colt rose to the occasion and left his challengers behind. Among the defeated was multiple graded stakes winner, Call Paul.
Vekoma took a break from the races after his superlative score in the Nashua Stakes. Weaver wanted to give the colt a freshening over the winter and aimed for the main focus to come in the spring when dreams of roses would be taking place. The colt grew stronger during his time off and returned in March to start his journey as a three-year-old.
Vekoma made his seasonal debut in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Vekoma was handed the bitter taste of defeat for the first time in his comeback, when he finished third behind the highly regarded Code of Honor and Bourbon War, who had coincidentally both grown up with him at Lanes End Farm as foals.
Vekoma’s loss in the Fountain of Youth Stakes was not enough to break his spirit, and the unflappable colt returned for yet another shot at making it into the Kentucky Derby. This time his test would come in the form of the 1 1/8-mile Toyota Bluegrass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Racecourse.
A large field assembled for the $1 million event, but Vekoma proved unshakable. The stouthearted animal determinedly stalked the pace before taking over in the stretch. In the blink of an eye Vekoma swiftly separated himself from the rest of the field and never looked back. With jockey Javier Castellano in the irons, Vekoma roared to victory by 3 ½ lengths, stopping the clock in a final time of 1:50.93. Among those left in his wake were track record setter, Win Win Win and graded stakes winner, Signalman.
Just like that, Vekoma bounced back from his lone defeat and made his way into the Kentucky Derby. With the legendary event drawing closer by the day, fans and handicappers alike are scurrying to try and solve the mystery as to who will wear the roses.
Vekoma boasts an impressive record but has not found his way to the top of many people’s Derby lists. Perhaps it is because of his awkward running style. It’s no secret that Vekoma’s bouncy stride and somewhat sideways gate is less than flattering. Yet, despite his strange appearance in flight, his stride has never faltered him. Others seem to think that Vekoma’s natural early speed will burn out before he reaches the daunting fifth and final quarter-mile in the Kentucky Derby. However, it is important to remember that although his dam is from a well-known sprinter, Vekoma himself is by a stallion that prevailed at classic distances and has produced offspring that have done the same. In many ways it is fair to think that Vekoma’s pedigree is the perfect combination of speed and stamina. And while it will be up to the colt to prove that for himself on the first Saturday in May, it should be known that this colt is not in without a shot.
Gifted with speed, heart, and determination there is a lot to like about Vekoma. His devoted will to win combined with his dauntless running style makes him a fierce and serious competitor, and he could not be coming into the Kentucky Derby in better shape. Vekoma’s latest workout for the big showdown came in the form of a bullet, when he worked five furlongs in a sharp final time of :59.95 on April 26. Vekoma’s odds for the Kentucky Derby will likely be higher than some of the more obvious choices, so it might be a wise idea to give this colt another look. Count Vekoma out at your own risk, as this colt has never failed to give his all.
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