Favored Vekoma pulled away down the stretch to earn a 3 ½-length victory in the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday and take a big step toward the Kentucky Derby.
The chestnut colt followed up last month's third-place finish in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes with his third win in four career starts. Vekoma started from the No. 2 post and was among the leaders throughout before gaining room from Somelikeithotbrown and Signalman nearing the final turn. Win Win Win charged down the stretch, but the George Weaver-trained horse was in control of the Grade 2 race by then and earned 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Javier Castellano, Vekoma covered 1 1/8th mile in 1:50.93 and paid $4.80, $3.20 and $2.60.
Win Win Win returned $4 and $3.20 for second and earned 40 points, while Signalman paid $3.60 to show and earned 20 points. Somelikeithotbrown earned 10 points for fourth.
From keeneland.com:
George Weaver (winning trainer of Vekoma)
“The last start (where he ran third in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth [G2]), there was a pretty fast pace, and I told (Fountain of Youth jockey) Manny (Franco) to be conservative the first half-mile.
“I talked to (jockey) Javier (Castellano) before this race, and told him I wasn’t so worried about that. I wanted to know if he can go the distance. He’s got great tactical speed, (which) put him in a spot going into the first turn and just ride him natural.
“He’s so talented and he’s done things in the morning. I’ve really never had a colt like this in all the time I’ve trained. Nothing would surprise me. If he comes out of it well, we’ll go to Louisville (for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve [G1]) and see what happens.
“I’m pretty tore up. I’m excited. I grew up in Kentucky and came to the Bluegrass when I was a kid, every year. Winning this race is very special.”
Javier Castellano (rider of Vekoma)
“I like the way he broke out of the gate. In the first turn, I realized I didn’t want to dictate the pace. I tried to ride a smart race. I didn’t want to be too aggressive early; you have to save something for the end. So we tracked it. I liked the way he rated the first quarter mile, and I liked the way he finished. Every time I asked him, he kicked on a little bit.
“I’ve been learning about the horse. I’ve been watching his races. I really fell in love with the horse last week when I worked the horse. I was very optimistic about winning the race today.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of runner-up Win Win Win)
“I didn’t win today, but I am so proud of this horse. He ran a great race. I got into a little traffic early and when I finally got him clear, I asked him to run, and he started to really turn it on. I think he can keep improving for the Derby. He’s a really nice horse.”
Michael Trombetta (trainer of Win Win Win)
“I don’t think we necessarily have to talk about distance being a limitation for him anymore. This was only his second start around two turns and he’s really starting to figure it out. Maybe the 1 1/4 miles in the Derby will be perfect for him.”
Brian Hernandez Jr. (rider of third-place finisher Signalman)
“We've been fortunate enough to work out some really good trips today; hopefully it’s all a building block on the first Saturday in May. It looks like we have enough points now to get in, so we’re excited about it. The Lewises (co-owners) are really excited since this will be their first Derby, and it looks like we’re going in there with a live horse. This will be his third race already in his 3-year-old career so you’ve gotta be excited. The race track has been playing speedy all day, and horses that have been close have been holding on, so we had to use our horse a little more than he may like but he still held on for a good third.”
Tyler Gaffalione (rider of fourth-place finisher Somelikeithotbrown)
“If you take into consideration the way the track’s been playing all day, I thought it (the pace) was pretty fair. In the filly race going a mile and a sixteenth (the Central Bank Ashland [G1]), they went :46 for the half. Speed held there. Speed’s been holding all day, so we tried to be a little aggressive. Just wasn’t our day.”
Mike Maker (trainer of Somelikeithotbrown)
“That’s his running style. He was fourth best today. It’s that simple. He handled the dirt well."
Earlier in the day Out For A Spin prevailed over Restless Rider and Jaywalk to win the $500,00 Central Bank Ashland Stakes.
Dallas Stewart (winning trainer of Out for a Spin)
“She hasn’t done much wrong. She’s won her last two out of three, and she did it impressively. She trains great. In this great game that we have, there are ups and downs, and this an up. Great to have a win today with this big, beautiful filly. She took it (almost) wire-to-wire, and Paco (Lopez) gave her a great ride. We’re going take it to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) from here.”
Paco Lopez (winning rider)
“Dallas told me out of the gate, this filly is fast. I’m really lucky, winning the races like that.”
Brian Hernandez Jr. (rider of runner-up Restless Rider)
“The trip was good except for not winning. For a filly that hasn’t run since last November, she stepped up and ran a big race. You always want to win these Grade 1s but you've gotta be proud of her and look forward to the Oaks. (At the end) she kept fighting, from the sixteenth pole home she was getting tired, but she kept digging and fighting at that filly (Out for a Spin). She (Restless Rider) wanted to win and she laid it all out there.”
Kenny McPeek (trainer of Restless Rider)
“This sets us up good for the Kentucky Oaks. Brian said she got a little tired and couldn’t quite get past the winner. We are in a good position for the next dance. We are pleased.”
Javier Castellano (rider of third-place finisher Jaywalk)
“She was on the lead, she did take the pace but the winner was right next to me. I didn’t have any excuse today. Turning for home, I asked her a little bit and she didn’t respond like she was supposed to. But what I liked is that she never gave up. At the top of the stretch she kept digging to be third place.”
John Servis (trainer of Jaywalk)
“I was very happy with her effort. I think this sets her up for the Kentucky Oaks. She is right where we want her to be. Hindsight being 20-20, I wish we would have sat off the pace a little bit. I thought she was the best filly. I told Javier to put her on the lead. She got pressured from the outside (horses). At the sixteenth pole when they spread out, she went to running again. Javier said we would have been better off if we sat off the pace.”
