Met Mile | Horse Racing Free Tips

First Foal for MGISW Vekoma

Spendthrift Farm's Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of the GI Met Mile and GI Carter H. is represented by his first foal, a filly that was born early Saturday at Crowning Point Farm in Paris, Kentucky.

“She's a nice filly, we thought she was a colt because of how big she was from a maiden mare,” said Julie Rini of Crowning Point. “She has a nice shoulder and hip, good bone and appears to be correct. We are very happy.”

Bred by Loren Nichols, the bay is the first foal out of Bella Alicita (Bellamy Road), who was stakes placed as a juvenile and is from the immediate family of graded stakes winner Blazing Fury. Campaigned by trainer George Weaver for R. A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables, Vekoma won on debut in 1:08 4/5 before earning his first graded win in the GIII Nashua S. At three, he won Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass S., and the next season added the Carter and Met Mile in addition to the Sir Shackleford S. at Gulfstream.

Vekoma, who retired to Spendthrift with earnings of $1,245,525, covered 222 mares in his first book in 2021. The 6-year-old chestnut is set to stand his second season at stud for a fee of $17,500 S&N.

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‘Nice Shoulder And Hip, Good Bone’: Vekoma’s First Foal A Filly At Crowning Point Farm

The first reported foal by Spendthrift Farm's Vekoma, the Met Mile (G1) and Carter Handicap (G1) winner by Candy Ride, is a filly that was born early Saturday at Crowning Point Farm in Paris.

“She's a nice filly, we thought she was a colt because of how big she was from a maiden mare. She has a nice shoulder and hip, good bone and appears to be correct. We are very happy,” said Julie Rini of Crowning Point.

Bred by Loren Nichols, the bay filly is the first foal out of the Bellamy Road mare Bella Alicita, who was stakes placed as a juvenile and is from the immediate family of graded stakes winner Blazing Fury.

Campaigned by trainer George Weaver for R. A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables, Vekoma was an undefeated graded stakes winner at two and four and captured a major Kentucky Derby prep race at three.

After winning on debut in 1:08 4/5, the fast son of Candy Ride earned his first graded win in the Nashua (G3) at Aqueduct to close out his juvenile season. Vekoma scored a decisive win in Keeneland's Blue Grass (G2) at three, and he proved to be one of the best horses in North America as a four-year-old, winning a pair of Grade One races in New York in 2020. Vekoma dominated the Carter (G1) before taking the prestigious Met Mile (G1), and he also captured the Sir Shackleford S. at Gulfstream. His –½ Ragozin number earned from his Carter performance remains the only negative number run on Ragozin this decade.

Vekoma retired to Spendthrift with earnings of $1,245,525 and proved popular among breeders, covering 222 mares in his first book in 2021. The 6-year-old chestnut is set to stand his second season at stud for a fee of $17,500 S&N.

For more information about Vekoma, please contact Des, Mark, or Brian at 859-294-0030, or visit SpendthriftFarm.com.

The post ‘Nice Shoulder And Hip, Good Bone’: Vekoma’s First Foal A Filly At Crowning Point Farm appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Flightline Earns Highest Beyer Of The Year For Malibu Romp

OK, so he wasn't beating Knicks Go, Essential Quality or Medina Spirit, but in racing right now, it seems there's Flightline and then there's everybody else.

The million-dollar son of Tapit exceeded all the pre-race hyperbole, displaying beyond a doubt he was more than the flavor of the month with a memorable victory in the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu Stakes, opening day headliner at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Despite a slightly slow start and bumping with second choice Dr. Schivel in the seven-furlong race, Flightline never took a deep breath, winning by 11 ½ lengths, widening as he crossed the wire, getting seven furlongs in 1:21.37.

Coupled with his first two victories by a combined margin of 26 lengths, the three-year-old bay colt has won his three starts by a combined 37 ½ lengths, a tad over 12 lengths per race.

“He came out of the race good,” said John Sadler Monday morning. Sadler conditions Flightline for Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing LLC.

“We're not looking at anything yet,” Sadler added, when asked about Flightline's next possible race. “We don't have any plans yet. It's too early for that,” although in a post-race TV interview he did mention the Saudi Cup and the Met Mile.

“The bigger picture point I was trying to make is that he could run in any race, but we haven't honed in on anything, obviously,” Sadler said.

“The horse is on a different level. All has to go right, but we might be looking at a historic-type horse before it's all over.

“We celebrated Christmas a day late.”

Indeed, and the celebration was further validated this morning when it became known that the freakishly good colt by Tapit had earned an astronomical 118 Beyer Speed Figure—best in America for 2021.

“It's the top Beyer of the year, surpassing the 114 posted by Flightline (Sept. 5) and Baby Yoda (Sept. 4) in separate races in September,” said Santa Anita Morning Line Maker Jon White. “Of course, Baby Yoda finished a distant second to Flightline yesterday.”

And so now, it is with great anticipation that horseplayers, not to mention racing secretaries everywhere, await Flightline's next assignment.

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Claiborne Acquires Breeding Rights to Met Mile Winner Silver State

Claiborne Farm has acquired the breeding rights to multiple graded stakes winner Silver State (Hard Spun–Supreme, by Empire Maker). He will stand at the Paris, Ky., farm upon his retirement from racing.

The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun has won seven of 13 career starts, hitting the board in 12 of those starts, and has made over $1.9 million. In 2021 alone, he is 4-1-1 from six starts and has made over $1.6 million.

“We are very excited to stand Silver State in 2022,” said Claiborne's Walker Hancock. “Danzig is one of the legends of Claiborne, and we anticipate his legacy continuing through his grandson, Silver State.”

Silver State is being pointed toward this year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 6, after earning a “Win and You're In” berth by winning the GI Metropolitan H. this June. In the stallion-making Met Mile, he defeated three Grade I winners, including Knicks Go (Paynter), a four-time Grade I winner who has captured the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S.

The highlight of his career thus far is a six-race winning streak spanning 2020 and 2021, which included wins in the listed Fifth Season S. and Essex S. at Oaklawn Park, the GII Oaklawn H. and culminating in his signature Met Mile triumph at Belmont.

“He's a tremendous physical,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “Everyone that's been around this horse is struck by his presence. He really must be seen to be believed.”

Ron Winchell of Winchell Thoroughbreds, who co-owns Silver State with Willis Horton Racing, added, “For any horse to win six races in a row, especially when those victories included races as well-regarded as the Oaklawn H. and Met Mile, is pretty incredible and puts him in a special category. Looking ahead to his stud career, we couldn't be more excited about Silver State finding a home at Claiborne. We're looking forward to supporting him with our mares and can't wait to see his offspring.”

A product of the vaunted Stonestreet Farm breeding program, Silver State is out of the Grade III-placed stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Supreme, and he hails from the family of GI Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. He sold for $450,000 as a yearling at the 2018 Keeneland September sale.

An advertised stud fee will be announced at a later date.

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