Colloquial earns 106 Beyer, tops by a 3-year-old, in Aqueduct maiden win

Colloquial’s return to the races was worth the wait.

Away since he was beaten a nose by Mentee in a five-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct in June, Colloquial returned to the races Friday at Aqueduct, winning a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race by seven lengths over One Nine Hundred. It was 12 lengths back to the third-place finisher Fanatical.

Colloquial covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.89 and earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance. That’s the highest figure earned by a foal of 2022. The previous highest figure earned by a 3-year-old this year was 100 by Rodriguez, winning a one-mile maiden race at Santa Anita on Jan. 4.

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Colloquial, under Manny Franco, bobbled soon after the start, bumped with a rival to his inside and settled into fifth position down the backside while four wide. He moved into second around the far turn, took over from One Nine Hundred at the three-sixteenths pole and was taken in hand late by Franco, one of his four winners on the eight-race card.

Colloquial, trained by George Weaver, was beaten a nose by Mentee on June 15, a race in which a track record of 56.97 seconds was established for five furlongs. Prior to a potential private purchase, Colloquial failed a veterinarian’s exam. The sale fell through and the decision was made to give Colloquial time off.

Colloquial is a son of Vekoma owned by Harrell Ventures and Starlight Racing.

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