‘Such A Warrior’: Vekoma Jumps Into Top Three Of NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

After earning his third straight victory and second consecutive Grade 1 triumph when he captured the Metropolitan Handicap on July 4, Vekoma left no doubt he was among the elite handicap horses in the country. The George Weaver-trainee had that status further validated on Monday when he earned 2 first-place votes and 302 points to move up to third overall in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Vekoma has shown quality throughout his eight career starts, winning the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes as a juvenile and taking the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes last April to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby field. He was put away for the rest of 2019 after finishing 12th in the Run for the Roses and has returned with a vengeance as a 4-year-old, prevailing in each of his three outings. The son of Candy Ride (ARG) opened his 2020 campaign with a win in the Sir Shackleton Stakes on March 28 before taking the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on June 6 and the historic Met Mile this past weekend.

“I think he's the best older horse in the country,” co-owner Randy Hill told the NYRA publicity team about Vekoma. “George (Weaver) is thinking about the Forego or training right up to the Breeders' Cup and we leave all of that up to him. The horse will tell us. He's such a warrior.”

Vekoma's presence was the only major shift near the top of the Thoroughbred Poll rankings as champion Midnight Bisou continues to reign with 24 first-place votes and 375 points. G M B Racing's Tom's d'Etat (8 first-place votes, 333 points) holds in second with Grade 1 winner-Mucho Gusto (171) dropping one spot to fourth.

By My Standards ranks fifth with 157 points followed by top sophomore runner Tiz the Law (2 first-place votes, 130 points) and Code of Honor (1 first-place vote, 123 points). Grade 1-winner Zulu Alpha is eighth with 99 points as Maximum Security (3 first-place votes, 98 points) sits ninth. Instilled Regard, winner of the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes this past weekend, joins the top 10 in the final spot with a total of 65 points.

Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law stays in command of the NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Poll for yet another week, earning 39 first-place votes and 399 points. Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (1 first-place vote, 358 points) remains second followed by graded-stakes winner Authentic (260 points) and Belmont Stakes runner-up Dr Post (211).

King Guillermo (188 points) ranks fifth and he is followed by the only newcomer to the poll's top 10, Uncle Chuck, who sits sixth with 135 points on the heels of his victory in the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby July 4. Top filly Gamine (134 points) dips one spot to seventh with Max Player (82), Charlatan (81) and Swiss Skydiver (67) completing the top 10.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport's most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Voting in both the Top 3-Year-Old Poll and the Top Thoroughbred Poll is scheduled to be conducted through the conclusion of the Breeders' Cup in November.

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‘It Just Gives Me Goosebumps’: Co-Owner Of Vekoma Recounts Big Win

Owner Randy Hill was still on cloud nine Sunday morning, the day after Vekoma went gate-to-wire in the Grade 1, $500,000 Runhappy Met Mile at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“What a horse,” an emphatic Hill said. “I'll never own another horse like this. I've watched the race about 20 times and it just gives me goosebumps. I really wish I could have been there, but I'd rather win than be there and lose them.”

Owned by Hill in partnership with Gatsas Stables, Vekoma's win earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. Vekoma controlled the pace before being confronted around the far turn. He shook off his competition when asked by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano and drew off to a 1 1/4-length score, keeping his record as a 4-year-old unblemished in three starts for trainer George Weaver.

Prior to the Runhappy Met Mile, Vekoma won the Sir Shackleton at Gulfstream Park in his 2020 debut before an impressive 7 1/4-length win in the Grade 1 Runhappy Carter on June 6 at Belmont Park, netting a 110 Beyer.

The Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America's Best Racing on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course could be the next start for Vekoma, Hill said.

Hill also mentioned the possibility of Vekoma training up to the Breeders' Cup World Championships on November 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course.

Vekoma has earned an automatic entry into both the Breeders' Cup Sprint and the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile when taking the Runhappy Carter and Runhappy Met Mile, which are both Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” events.

“I think he's the best older horse in the country,” Hill said. “George is thinking about the Forego or training right up to the Breeders' Cup and we leave all of that up to him. The horse will tell us. He's such a warrior.”

Blair Golen, who oversees Weaver's Belmont string, reported that the Runhappy Met Mile hero emerged from Saturday's triumph in good shape.

“He came out of it in good order,” Golen said. “What impressed me last time and this time was that he wasn't that tired. When he ran here at seven furlongs, he recovered fast and was really on the muscle, and it was the same again this time too.”

Bred in Kentucky by Alpha Delta Stables, Vekoma is by multiple-champion producing stallion Candy Ride out of the Speightstown broodmare Mona de Momma who, like Vekoma, also was a Grade 1-winner going seven furlongs.

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The Week in Review: Met Mile–and Vekoma–Both Benefit from Role Recasts

One of the most welcome schedule changes imposed upon the racing calendar by the COVID-19 pandemic was the repositioning of the GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. to headline status on the July 4 holiday at Belmont Park.

In 2014, the Met Mile got yanked off its decades-long anchor as the Memorial Day feature in New York, reassigned to a supporting role on GI Belmont S. Day. This move was part of the prevalent (but not always aesthetically pleasing) national practice of stacking graded stakes on big-race Saturdays. It never felt like a true fit, primarily because the five years of undercard status didn’t match the race’s century-plus foundation of historical significance.

On Saturday, Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) did his best to ensure that what appeared on paper to be a talent-laden renewal of the 2020 Met Mile unfolded that way on the racetrack. He stormed straight to the front, refused to be headed under intensifying pressure, then deftly swatted away serious deep-stretch bids from some of the best middle-distance horses on the continent.

Off as the 1.95-1 second favorite, Vekoma prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:32.88 for the one-turn mile (104 Beyer Speed Figure).

A thrill-ride metaphor is apt here because Vekoma shares a name with a roller coaster manufacturer. You can even make the case that this George Weaver-trained 4-year-old has already had one dizzying ascent followed by a free-fall plummet, and is just now gathering momentum for the next set of twists and turns.

The early part of Vekoma’s career was notable for its 2-for-2 start, including a win in the 2018 GIII Nashua S.

But as a May 22 foal who was on the slight side, Vekoma earned a reputation as a light-bodied, overachieving speedster who at times looked intimidated by physically bigger foes. He also tended to lose focus in his stretch runs, and had a quirky way of going that wasn’t pretty, but got the job done.

Just like the Met Mile got miscast in its supporting role, Vekoma, too, was miscast in the spring of 2019 as a bona fide 10-furlong contender on the GI Kentucky Derby trail.

He ran a credible third in the GII Fountain of Youth S. despite being outmuscled off the turn by eventual winner Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}). Then he forced the pace on the front end to win the GII Toyota Blue Grass S., but that victory was aided by a speed-friendly Keeneland surface (seven of eight main-track winners that day were first or second at the second call), and it signaled the two-turn breakthrough might have been bias-enhanced.

Since hardly anyone wins a Derby prep in April then skips the Derby itself, Vekoma got tossed into the deep end of the sophomore pool on the first Saturday in May. He broke alertly, opted for a four-deep position to avoid slop kickback, then appeared physically overmatched when the brawnier Country House bulled by for his via-DQ winning run. “At least he came back in one piece,” Weaver quipped after the colt’s 13th-place finish.

Vekoma got nearly 11 months off and returned this past March with more muscle on his frame and far fewer focus issues. He still has that offbeat front action. But when he posted a 102 Beyer coming off the shelf in the Sir Shackleton S. at Gulfstream, then followed up with a 7 1/4-length, 110-Beyer trouncing of a respectable field in the GI Runhappy Carter H. June 6 (both over seven furlongs), the emphasis started to shift away from how Vekoma looks when he runs to how imposing a presence he’s developed.

As Weaver told TDN‘s Chris McGrath last month, this colt is now “all man.”

In the Met Mile, Vekoma beat a field that boasted 20 combined graded stakes victories. ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense), who was a trip-troubled second in last year’s deep edition of the Met Mile, made an all-out bid, but could fare no better than sixth as the beaten favorite. Code of Honor, who assertively put Vekoma in his place twice when they met last year at age three, now was the one who submitted in the final furlong, checking in third despite digging in and trying hard.

“At the quarter pole, for a brief moment, I didn’t know if he had any horse in the tank or not,” Weaver said of Vekoma after the race. “But at the eighth pole, I saw him re-break and I was so proud of him.”

Vekoma’s Met Mile win did come over a drying-out main track that leaned slightly toward speed-favoring (three wire winners and one presser from five dirt races) and produced some quick clockings (the GIII Victory Ride S. for 3-year-old fillies earlier on the card was only a hundredth of a second off the track record for 6 1/2 furlongs).

Vekoma’s Met Mile tally earned him a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” berth into the GI Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile, just like his Carter score last month earned him a similar free pass into the GI Sprint.

Vekoma is now 5-for-5 in one-turn races. He hasn’t run six furlongs, the Sprint distance, since his career debut. And because this year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held at Keeneland, the two-turn Dirt Mile configuration could also prove challenging to his one-turn sweet spot.

With a circumference of 1 1/16 miles, flat miles on the main surface are not generally carded at Keeneland because of the disadvantageously short run into the first turn that would hamper outside-drawn horses. In 2015, when the track hosted the Breeders’ Cup for the first time, the solution called for the Dirt Mile starting gate to be placed 70 yards ahead of the mile pole. This creates a relatively long 210-foot run-up before the timing starts, with the race finishing at the sixteenth pole.

No holiday thaw in Maryland Lasix Standoff

The prospect of 2-year-old racing in Maryland is still being held “hostage” by The Stronach Group (TSG), according to the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA).

“Unless the Maryland Racing Commission (MRC) directs otherwise, there will be no 2-year-old races in Maryland in 2020 in light of the refusal of TSG, owner of the Maryland Jockey Club, to card 2-year-old races [at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course] unless they are Lasix-free,” the MTHA stated in a page-one update in its just-released July newsletter.

After failing to gain permission from the MRC for Lasix-free juvenile races at a contentious July 25 commission meeting, the MTHA and TSG reportedly tried to come to a compromise just prior to the Independence Day weekend, according to the MTHA’s version of events.

“In an effort to defuse the crisis, get 2-year-old races carded, and help the industry continue to recover from the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the MTHA Board of Directors on July 1 offered to TSG to permit 2-year-old races to be carded for the next 90 days, with 50% of such races to be run under the current rules and 50% of the races to be run Lasix-free, and commence discussions with TSG and the new MRC Safety and Wel-fare Committee on future Lasix policy,” the MTHA stated.

“The offer was promptly rejected by TSG, but TSG offered that it would be willing to card some non-Lasix Maryland-bred 2-year-old races with bonuses paid by TSG. The MTHA unanimously rejected this offer,” the MTHA newsletter stated.

“Trainers have been conditioning 2-year-olds for months waiting for a race. Owners and breeders are taking a major financial hit, particularly with Maryland-bred 2-year-olds that must race in state to qualify for the lucrative owner and breeder bonuses that are depended upon to sustain their operations. On July 1, a $40,000 MSW event at Delaware Park was split into two divisions, each with seven horses–almost all Maryland-based,” the MTHA stated.

Sharking the Odds

It turns out that horse racing hasn’t been the only animal-based competition trying to attract gambling dollars from bettors who would normally be wagering on team sports during the coronavirus lockdown.

The New York Times reported last week that MyBookie, an online sports bookmaker, began taking action on the summer migration patterns of nine great white sharks.

“The company’s website displayed odds on various aspects of each shark’s travel itinerary, using data mined from Ocearch, a nonprofit that’s been tracking the animals’ movements for years,” Katherine J. Wu reported. “An interactive map on Ocearch’s website monitors shark migration in near-real time, providing gamblers ample fodder for wagers–akin, perhaps, to a virtual horse race, conducted entirely at sea.”

The founder of Ocearch said in the article that the bookmaker began offering the bets without explicit permission to use the shark tracking data.

According to the article, “staff members at Ocearch asked MyBookie to suspend the site [June 17], just hours after it had gone live. The two organizations are now negotiating, and it’s unclear whether the (now defunct) shark betting endeavor will resume.”

Although some people came out against the idea of sharks being paired with a betting endeavor, the article pointed out that some conservationists actually approve of the pairing, particularly if the betting can foster interest as “a new way for the public to engage with sharks.” One idea proposed by a marine biologist called for the bookmaker to offer a cut of the action in the form of donations to shark researchers, “who work in a field that is often in need of more financial support.”

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Equibase Analysis: Mr. Freeze Poised For Fireworks In Met Mile

The Fourth of July feature on a fantastic day of racing at Belmont Park is the Grade 1, $500,000 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap, otherwise known as the Met Mile. Historically one of the biggest races in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile division, this year's race lives up to that billing with eight horses running the one-turn mile trip.

Leading the field in terms of earnings is Code of Honor, who has earned more than $2.4 million to date, some of that when winning the Grade 1 Travers Stakes last summer two races after a second place finish (via disqualification of the winner) in the Kentucky Derby. Making his first start as a four year old last month, Code of Honor won the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes and appears set for even better.

The horse with the top earnings in the field is McKinzie, who has amassed a $3.4 million bankroll. McKinzie rallied from next-to-last in the 2019 Metropolitan Handicap and comes into the race off a “ridden out” win in the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes. Mr Freeze is another talented horse with $1.4 million in career earnings. Mr Freeze won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes at this one-turn mile trip in February to prove he belongs at this level.

Vekoma won the Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in April, 2019 and went into the Kentucky Derby well-regarded but finished 13th. A perfect two-for-two in 2020, Vekoma comes off a win in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Belmont last month. Westchester runner-up Endorsed and Carter runner-up Network Effect hope to turn the tables on Code of Honor and Vekoma, respectively.

Hog Creek Hustle won the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes last June on Belmont Stakes day but is winless in seven races since then. Warrior's Charge rounds out the field of eight. He won the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap in February in the same manner he's earned all of his other three wins, leading from start to finish. As such, we know who will be trying to lead these on a merry chase from the start.

Mr Freeze and Vekoma are my two top contenders to win this year's Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap, but of the pair I will give Mr Freeze preference. The reason is he's a true dirt miler. Last September, Mr Freeze won the Ack Ack Stakes for a then career-best 115 Equibase Speed Figure and he hasn't really run a bad race since then. Stretching out to two-turns and a mile and one-eighth for the Fayette Stakes in October and the Clark Stakes in November, Mr Freeze finished respectably to the top horse in the handicap division in North America, Tom's d'Etat, winner of the Stephen Foster Stakes last weekend. After another big effort when second in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January, Mr Freeze cut back to a one turn mile and won the Gulfstream Park Mile in impressive fashion, duplicating the 115 figure earned in the Ack Ack. Once again Mr Freeze stretched out to nine furlongs for the Oaklawn Handicap when last seen in May, finishing third of 13. Incidentally, the winner of that race (By My Standards) came back to run second to Tom's d'Etat in the Foster. For this race, Mr Freeze is once again cutting back from a mile and one-eighth to a mile and if his last two efforts at a mile are any indication, he's going to be very tough to beat. On another positive note, jockey Manny Franco rode Mr Freeze just once previously, when victorious in the Gulfstream Park Mile.

Vekoma, although running just twice in 2018, was a top two-year-old as he won the Nashua Stakes in November in only the second start of his career. Similarly, he won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in his second start as a three year old, before disappointing badly when 13th in the Kentucky Derby. Given nearly 11 months to mature after that, Vekoma made a very sharp debut as a four year old in March with a stirring victory in the Sir Shackleton Stakes with a career-best 109 figure. Improving sensationally in his second start of the year, Vekoma put to shame a good field in the Carter Handicap last month at Belmont when drawing off to a seven and one-quarter length win. The 116 figure earned in that race is the second best last race figure in the field, just one point shy of the 117 McKinzie earned last month at the same seven furlong trip. However, what Vekoma has going for him which McKinzie does not is being a four year old, Vekoma is still physically maturing and can improve. A perfect four-for-four in one-turn races in his career and with a perfect two-for-two record at Belmont, Vekoma is another strong contender to win this year's Metropolitan Handicap.

Code of Honor, like Vekoma, was a top three-year-old last year, winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes in March. After third place finishes in the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby, placed second in the latter race after the disqualification of Maximum Security, Code of Honor proved himself once again when winning the Dwyer Stakes at this one-turn mile trip at Belmont last July. Stretching out to a mile and one-quarter, Code of Honor won the Travers Stakes before a career-best effort and 114 figure when coming up a nose short in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, then was moved up to first after bumped by the original winner. The long campaign apparently took its toll as he finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Classic. However, after seven months off, Code of Honor came back strongly to win the Westchester Stakes last month over the track with a 113 figure effort that bears improvement in his second start off that long layoff.

Endorsed led into the stretch in the Westchester but had no answer for Code of Honor in the late stages. The 112 figure was a career-best and he certainly could be a factor once more. McKinzie earned a 117 figure winning the Triple Bend Stakes last month in California and earned back-to-back 121 figures in two-turn races, winning the Whitney Stakes last summer at Saratoga then second in the Awesome Again Stakes. He finished second in the Breeders' Cup Classic to end his 2019 campaign. McKinzie, along with Hog Creek Hustle has mostly a deep closing style when he runs into a very hot pace as evidenced by his eighth to second place effort in last year's Metropolitan Handicap. Hog Creek Hustle earned a career best 106 figure when coming up a nose short in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes last summer but has not come close to running that kind of race since. With only one “early” pace type in this race, Warrior's Charge (with a career-best 104 figure), I think the late charges of both McKinzie and Hog Creek Hustle may be a bit muted. Network Effect earned a career-best 111 figure winning the restricted Big Drama Stakes in May but was no match for Vekoma in the Carter and is another who may be held to a minor award.

Win Contenders:
Mr Freeze
Vekoma
Code of Honor

Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap – Grade 1
Race 9 at Belmont Park
Saturday, July 4 – Post Time 5:47 PM E.T.
One Mile
Three Years Olds and Upward
Purse: $500,000
T.V.: NBC 5 – 6 PM E.T.

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